Australian Indigenous Music

Gurrumul Yunupingu

A reader has written to recommend listening to two recent releases of what he describes as remarkable Australian music.

“I have just heard a most incredible Australian CD, Cannot Buy My Soul – The Songs of Kev Carmody.   The musician and songwriter, Paul Kelly, pulled together a stellar cast of the cream of the Australian music scene to host a concert playing the songs of Kev Carmody, an Aboriginal drover turned musician.

“Kev Carmody wrote his songs from the 1960s through to the 1980s.  There is so much dignity and eloquence in these songs, expressing the story from the soul of the Australian Indigenous people.  Sometimes music can express the inexpressible qualities of a country – such is this music. 

“Also highly recommended when contemplating Australian indigenous music is Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s  widely acclaimed album, Gurrumul.  There are many good reasons to recommend his music, which is mostly sung in various Indigenous languages, with scenes drawn from the Aboriginal “Dreaming”.
 
“Gurrumul, blind since birth and a former member of the internationally acclaimed band Yothu Yindi, has released an album of quiet beauty.  His voice has been described as having being touched by angels.  If you are interested in some really great Australian music perhaps take a chance to listen to these.”

(Photograph: geelongadvertiser.com.au)

Add comment November 3rd, 2008