Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's new album: "Gurrumul"

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:32 pm

Just got this today hot off the press. Gurrumul is having his CD launch tomorrow in Darwin I believe, and you'll be able to purchase the CD not long after at Skinnyfish Music in Darwin.

There are 12 tracks altogether in this CD:

1. Wiyathul
2. Dja:rimirri
3. Ba:pa
4. Gurrumul history (I was born blind)
5. Marrandil
6. Marwurrumburr
7. Galiku
8. Baywara
9. Ga:thu Ma:wula
10. Galupa
11. Wirrpangu
12. Wukun

The CD comes with an insert containing song lyrics and black and white photographs of Gurrumul.

This is a soulful CD with brilliant musicianship. Gurrumul is credited with writing all 12 songs and he provides most of the instrumentation as well. When Mandawuy said of Gurrumul years ago "Gurrumul is a musical genius, he has untold talents" few would have imagined his development as a musician of such tenderness and ability. I particularly love Dja:rimirri, Marwurrumburr, Galiku, Baywara, Ga:thu Ma:wula and Wukun. These are tuneful, soulful songs from the heart and from the land. The depths from which Gurrumul draws his strength as a singer-songwriter could only be described as God-given... his vocal work soars to great heights, the honesty of his lyrics pull at the heartstrings. All this is all the more incredible considering Gurrumul was born blind.

If you appreciate good music even if it is in a foreign language, if you want insights into what moves Yolngu and what culture is about, this is the CD for you.

Guan

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 470

Sounds good. I'll get in touch with the Skinnyfish boys...

flyangler18 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:43 pm

Sounds like a must-have, Guan! I'll get in touch with Skinnyfish as well.

flyangler18 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:45 pm

Just checked out Skinnyfish, it's already up for sale. I love the guitar licks on 'Djarimirri'.

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:40 am

Here's a medley of what to expect from the CD. If you like it, buy the CD and support Gurrumul's passion and talent for music.

Guan

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 470

A nice 'island' feel to the songs. Happy stuff.

pacdidj · **Posted:** Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:44 am

Pre-ordered it a while ago and got it in early January. It's a beautiful disc. Favorite tracks are Djarimirri, Baywara, and Gathu Mawula. The arrangement of Baywara is really interesting. That song was written as a pop/dance number with driving kick drum and sampled thunder sounds. It's cool to hear the much mellower and sweeter arrangment on this album, and to be able to clearly hear the lyrics. Awesome that every songs includes full lyrics with translations. Geoffrey's a great musician, who I think we can expect more great things from in the future.

mahoran · **Posted:** Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:10 am

Thank Guan for keeping us posted and Jason for posting a sample

I am also gonna get one,

cheers people

m.

martin · **Joined:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:25 pm **Posts:** 151

Thanks Guan for letting us know about this.
Yes, Gurrumul has a great musical talent.
Looking forward to putting his cd on continuous play.
Martin

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 470

Ordered mine!

flyangler18 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:05 am

Quote:

Ordered mine!

Ordered mine early this morning, looking forward to playing this one non-stop for sure!

GGW · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:19 am

Hi there

Quote:

These are tuneful, soulful songs from the heart and from the land. The depths from which Gurrumul draws his strength as a singer-songwriter could only be described as God-given... his vocal work soars to great heights, the honesty of his lyrics pull at the heartstrings.

Very well described

GGW

zeroZen · **Joined:** Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:03 pm **Posts:** 10

Mandawuy, "The Guru" and Neil Finn acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYYjRxVt ... re=related

Peter Lister · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:36 am

I had a lovely nostalgic time yesterday evening listening to Gurrumul's sweet voice as the sun set at my place. You can easily see how much of his influence permeated Saltwater Bands' sound. So many stories came back to me of when I was in Ramo. - stories told by "family" about the band staying at their house and visits too from band members during two of my stays there. I recall also driving across to Maningrida in 2002 with two "brothers" and a "brother-in-law" and seeing Gurrumul. He wasn't driving of course

....there was a balanda like me behind the wheel. I never did find out where he was going as the other guys were so excited to see him and for the rest of the trip they talked of little else. Of course we had Saltwater Band playing in the car and their excitement swelled again when we got back to Ramo. and they started telling their story.

I didn't take any snaps of the encounter with 'fame' but here are two pics (none with Gurrumul) of us that day. One shot at Maningrida (I setup the camera) and one on our return having just crossed the Blyth River. Everyone is in the car except Wunygu' - he was still too excited !! I should add that such suave dressing was described by Yuwalarra as "gentle clothes" - clearly they were gentlemen that day.

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 470

Great pics Peter! Must've been quite hot in those 'gentle clothes'.

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Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's new album: "Gurrumul"

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