- Audio CD (23 Feb 2009)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Dramatico/Skinnyfish
- ASIN: B0013NFQ8O
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 18,715 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
2009 was the year for World Music unexpected success stories. The band of the year was Staff Benda Bilili, the rousing Congolese guitar players who released the exhilarating album Tres Tres Fort. And as for the solo success of the year, it was, without question, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, a blind Aboriginal singer who comes from the remote territory of northeast Arnhem Land in Australia, and sings mostly in the dialects of the Gumatj clan.
Now, at the end of the year, his album Gurrumul is still firmly in place at the top of the World Music charts, although it was originally released back in February. The single Bapa even found its way onto the BBC Radio 2 playlist – which has only featured six other non-English language songs over the past decade.
Gurrumul has become a massive success in Britain simply because he possesses an exquisite, yearning and soulful voice and his sturdy, sad-edged songs are packed with such strong, quietly grand and epic melodies that many of them sound like instant standards. He may be Aboriginal, and his lyrics highly personal, but his easy-going, gently rolling music sounds as if he has been influenced by Western folk, gospel, soul and reggae. It’s a curious but highly effective mixture that has upset some World Music purists but has brought him a deserved following in the West.
He may be a newcomer for British audiences, but his is no overnight success story. Back in Australia he started out as a teenager, working first with the rock-influenced Yothu Yindi, and then the Saltwater Band. But for this debut solo he concentrated on acoustic styles, with the backing provided largely by his own guitar, but with double bass, additional acoustic guitar work and vocal harmonies filling out the sound. The album was originally recorded for a small indie label in Darwin, where it was first released in 2008, but it became an unexpected success right across Australia, where Gurrumul was praised by one major newspaper as “the greatest voice this continent has ever recorded”.
He is certainly the most distinctive Australian star of recent years, and though there are few changes of mood or emotion on Gurrumul, the strength of his gently soaring vocals and the power of songs like Wiyathul, Marrandil and the highly personal and emotional English-language song Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind) make this a remarkable album. --Robin Denselow
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Mojo, February 2009
"It's a heart-warming story of overcoming adversity and building a following without hype"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I heard one track from this album on Radio 2 and loved it. I was so inspired by what I heard that as soon as I was able to I tracked down the album and bought it - and I have no regrets. The music of this man is wonderful, really relaxing - ideal to listen to when you want to chill out (I wouldn't recommend it for in the car, you might relax too much). I think the album will appeal to a wide range of music lovers.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I first heard Geoffery Gurrumul's voice on board a ship in the Southern Ocean; the CD belonged to an Australian lady passenger. The ship had an open bridge policy, and passengers would gather in the evenings to listen to the Captain's choice of classical music. Gurrumul's voice was a perfect background for the wild Ocean and the all-night Antarctic dusk.
When I returned home, I searched in vain for the CD, finally finding it on Amazon. Gurrumul's voice is haunting, pure, heartbreaking. It resonates deep inside, down to places inside you that thought didn't exist.
He was born blind, and sings in his local Maori dialect for the most part; songs of his own tribe, his own life experience. It is a CD to play when you need a quiet time, when the world is crushing you with it's demands; in the car in manic traffic; at home when you need to to to a place in your head where there is a mountain with cool air and gentle sun.
By far the most moving track is "Bapa" or "Papa". You don't need to translate, and it will stay in your head even after one play.
This man's music is going to be huge. He has already achieved cult status in Australia and among world music purists.
When I returned home, I searched in vain for the CD, finally finding it on Amazon. Gurrumul's voice is haunting, pure, heartbreaking. It resonates deep inside, down to places inside you that thought didn't exist.
He was born blind, and sings in his local Maori dialect for the most part; songs of his own tribe, his own life experience. It is a CD to play when you need a quiet time, when the world is crushing you with it's demands; in the car in manic traffic; at home when you need to to to a place in your head where there is a mountain with cool air and gentle sun.
By far the most moving track is "Bapa" or "Papa". You don't need to translate, and it will stay in your head even after one play.
This man's music is going to be huge. He has already achieved cult status in Australia and among world music purists.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I woke up in the middle of the night last week, just couldn't sleep so I turned on my radio and listened to some world music...then a track from this cd came on and absolutely blew me away. I just lay there in the dark and felt so deeply moved!!When it was finished I immediately got out of my bed, went on to Amazon and ordered a copy. I just can't stop listening to this album..the more I do the more magical it becomes.I'm convinced this music could change the world!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gurrumul
Like othere reviewers I first heard Gurrumul onthe Jeremy Vine Show-it followed a particuarly sad story of suicide. Read more
Published 5 months ago by eclecticmagpie
Wizard of Oz
What a magical voice this man has - lyrical and haunting. It does not matter that he is, in the main, singing in his own language, just drift of to a different world. Read more
Published 5 months ago by merlin
Gurrumul
Great music from a unique artist. Haunting & atmospheric, sung with great feeling. music to help you relax and shake off the worries of the world.
Published 6 months ago by sam
Buy this
Phenomenal album, hauntingly brilliant and unusual. cannot recommend highly enough. If you like acoustic guitar,raw vocals and passion then buy this.
Published 7 months ago by Occasional shopper
RELAX AND ENJOY
A DEFINITE FOR THOSE WHO WANT RELAXING AND TUNEFUL BACKGROUND ANYWHERE THEY TRAVEL OR JUST LAZING AROUND. HAVE ALSO BOUGHT COPIES AS PRESENTS FOR MUSIC LOVING FRIENDS.
Published 7 months ago by POLLYANNA
WONDERFUL
This man has the most wonderful voice, I have heard his son Bapa many times and now have bought his CD. Every time I hear his voice brings tears to my eyes. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Barbara Flannery
Gurrumul
This is a super CD. Play it quietly to relax to and then have it really loud to feel wonderfully uplifted.
Published 12 months ago by LH
Soft Listening
Played tracks over and over on qantas flight from NZ. Lovely guitar. Had to get the album. Good for relaxing, working out, snoozing and instead of watching rubbish on TV.
Published 19 months ago by ken
Beautiful voice, pleasant songs
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yununpingu has a voice of unearthly beauty, there are no two ways about it: transcendently, androgynously pure. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Isafish
Just Listen
All I can say is buy this CD and just sit back and listen, and any worries you may have will float away for a while.
Published 21 months ago by Bernie B
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