June 2013 (Day 157) – Gurrumul

It’s an extremely busy day, incorporating a 3 hour in house occupation health and safety seminar and an off-site meeting.   I have only two shortish stints at my desk and I opt for music on the quieter side starting with;

(# 407) – Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul (2008)

This is one of the most feted albums released in recent Australian music history and the great majority of people who heard it cannot understand a word.  Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, is a blind Aboriginal from Arnhem Land, north of Darwin who sings mostly in his native language accompanied on most tracks with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and double bass.  But there is an emotion and clarity in his voice that cannot be denied; to hear it is to fall under its spell just as I do whenever I hear artists of the calibre of Aaron Neville, Curtis Mayfield and, on occasion, Marvin Gaye.  You’ll have to seek translations to discover what the songs are about but I’m reliably informed that the songs are about matters close to home rather than of protest.  This is borne out by the only song that utilises some  English, Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind), and which is suitably affecting.

(# 408) Opal – Early Recordings (1989)

Sometimes my memory plays tricks on me.  Seeking something to follow on from Gurrumul, I thought this would be the best bet.  Opal was effectively the duo of David Roback and Kendra Smith.  This album contains their first two EPs and some outtakes of their take on psychedelica and folk music.  Whilst Smith’s voice floats like an American Nico, it is the guitar work of Roback that frequently catches the ear on tracks such as Empty Box Blues, Empty Bottles and Fell From The Sky in a manner that reminds you of his previous band, The Rain Parade.   A full length album followed these EPs and afterwards Smith left to record a couple of ethereal albums. She was replaced by the even more ethereal Hope Sandoval as the band became Mazzy Star, the band I actually wanted to play

I was in need of such reflective music because “M” were due to meet with her specialist for a post operation briefing.  Whilst we had already received the good word, one cannot fully put these things out of your mind until you’ve heard it directly from the source.   Fortunately, were we reassured that everything was benign and were briefed about her future outlook.  We left the meeting more relived than anything else and ready to face whatever life has next in store for us, just like Gurrumul.

Of course for me, that means continuing this blog…….