Aboriginal music gets an angelic new voice (fwd link)

[phil cash cash]

Aboriginal music gets an angelic new voice

March 31, 2008
The Sydney Morning Herald

Blindness and shyness have not hindered a brilliant talent, writes Bruce Elder.

INTERVIEWING Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is very, very different. He speaks
little English. He lives on Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land. He has
been blind from birth and he is very shy. So we agree that emails, translated
and transported by the musician Michael Hohnen, the producer of Yunupingu's
extraordinary new album, Gurrumul, might be a workable strategy.

This is not some foolishly self-imposed obstacle course. Yunupingu's new album
is the most beautiful recording ever made by an Aboriginal musician. He has a
voice of transcendental emotional power that is reminiscent of the great Aaron
Neville and his mix of gospel, soul and folk is a compelling new sound on an
Aboriginal music scene that has been dominated in recent years by pub rock,
reggae, rapping and country.

Access full article at link below:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/aboriginal-music-gets-an-angelic-new-voice/2008/03/30/1206850699533.html