Going back probably about 18 months, to the days when David Fagan and Colleen Ryan at the Courier Mail hadn`t lost the plot yet and I could get some letters in the paper, I wrote what was then quite a quirky off the cuff letter, in contrast to my then prevailing political style, about an Aboriginal musician from Arnhem Land whose music really did strike a chord with me.
The name of this fella is Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, blind from birth but in the spirit of Stevie Wonder he somehow managed to teach himself how to play the guitar in a similar unexplained way that Wonder taught himself how to play keyboard, and not forgetting Ray Charles of course.
His album from 2008, simply titled `Gurrumul` is a very soulful and euphoric collection of acoustic guitar songs, mostly sung in the native Aboriginal tongue with the odd english addition.
The only thing on the album besides the
blessed voice of Gurrumul and his guitar is a bit of double bass and some backing harmonies.
blessed voice of Gurrumul and his guitar is a bit of double bass and some backing harmonies.
Sting is one musician who has come out in support of Gurrumul and cited him as a present day influence. To me, he escapulates world music, country music and soul and puts them all into one very unique and inspirational package.
Do the right thing by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and go get this lovely collection of effervescent songs at any good record shop.
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