- From the very first strains of Djarimirri: (Child of Rainbows), we can hear we're in for something special. The Nyman-esque cyclical cello feature, bubbling marimba. These are the typical markers of post-classical, late Twentieth-century contemporary orchestral composition. This record is going to be about as close to Gurrumul's solo-guitar-and-voice material as Jeff Buckley's Live at Sin-e is to Phillip Glass' Einstein on the Beach.
Dr G's distinctive voice drifts freely over in three-part harmony, the rhythmic cycles collapse to a single point, and the opening statement of intent is made: this is ambitious. Child Of Rainbows seeks to synthesise something from the music and story of the planet's longest continuous culture with the accumulated aesthetics of centuries of western classical practice.
It makes Peter Gabriel's experiments in global dub sound like the relics of 1980's thinking that they now are. This might be an extension of where WOMAD-culture has lead us, but it leaves even relatively recent and well-executed versions of cross-cultural collaboration like Kardajala Kirridarra seeming a little passe.
Significant behind-the-scenes props must go to long-time collaborator Erkki Veltheim, who's the quiet-genius-arranger somehow bridging ancient storytelling and song with cutting-edge orchestral manouevres, and Michael Hohnen who produced the project and shared equal composition credits with Erkki and Dr G himself.
If this record has a weak point it could be this: whilst it's likely to excite critics (zing!) and music nerds it is very much the music of recital centres and conservatoriums. Is what's great about this record accessible to everyone? Could it tour to the country the stories are from?
Ultimately these questions may be moot. If this record is ever performed live it won't be with the original personnel, and besides, it's not the only way into the artistry of Dr G that was left behind; but it is as hauntingly fragile as any of the rest of his body of work and an utterly unique testament to a singular creative voice. Djarimirri has moved the idea of collaboration between indigenous and western traditions a quantum-leap forward, into a timeless sounding future and it will be a long time before anyone else has such an original, thoughtful, strikingly beautiful idea about what music can be.
- Kieran Ruffles.