This is a song from the Saltwater Band from Elcho Island in north-east Arnhem Land – I first did a gig with them on the basketball court at Elcho too many years ago to care about but they were a great live band then and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an obvious standout in the band and destined for the many great things he has recently achieved.
Both Geoffrey and the Saltwater Band record for the Darwin label Skinnyfish Music who have put ten and more long years in support of Aboriginal music from across the Top End – check out their catalogue!
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu has had a stellar rise that in my view is more than well-deserved.
Personally I think that his label hasn’t quite got the musical mix right yet – the quasi-jazz backing band with the double bass, squawky keyboards and fiddle (!!) he has been using lately doesn’t do much for me and I really think that he could do with a bit of time in front of a world-class producer – not that I can think of any obvious choices right now.
But Geoffrey’s voice, playing and obvious skill with a words – in both English and Gumatj – take him to another place above us mere mortals.
Mark Grose from Skinnyfish will hate me for using his favourite phrase (which I gifted to him years ago late one night) but I think Geoffrey makes a contribution to the national cultural estate that will endure for many years – but don’t stop with Geoffrey – check out the Saltwater Band albums as well – if you are looking for Gurrumul back catalogue they have some great songs!
Here is one of my favourites songs of Geoffrey’s, it is at once sad but somehow hopeful and uplifting in the truest sense…this is guaranteed to make those small hairs on the back of your neck rustle:
Enjoy.
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