Listening
to the new Midnight Oil album the cynical, critical listener might
ask : "Where's the passion?" "Where's the message?" . This is a
'different' Midnight Oils album. If you're expecting the finger-pointing
soap-boxing Oils, you may not find them here. This time. And why
should you? They gave it to us in spadefuls with their last studio
album, 'Redneck Wonderland' but most of us weren't listening. Chances
are we won't listen to this album either, because we tend to take
our longer-standing artists for granted. Given that indifference
the Oils seem to have made an album for themselves. And I'd like
to go down on record now to say that in time to come this album
will be seen as the beginning of a new chapter for Midnight Oil,
the re-gathering of the strength within. In making an album for
themselves and anyone who might care to listen, they've rediscovered
what's just as important as the messages, the music. This time,
you, as the listener, is going to have to do some "work", you'll
have to listen and find out what's to be discovered within. Subtly.
Nothing's being rammed down our throats. The last time most of us
saw the Oils was when they made that magnificent statement at the
Sydney Olympics, wearing those 'sorry' bearing clothes, so much
more powerful than a quick outburst at the microphone or a clenched
fist of rebellion. Boy, did they get their message across. Subtly.
Then, musically they gave us the 'Real Thing' album, the Oils' unplugged
leftovers, including a couple of new tracks recorded with the band
just sitting in a circle, playing. 'Capricornia' takes up from that
moment, the band more naked, unadorned and uncomplicated than we've
heard them in a long long time .. since 'Head Injuries' ... almost
like they were starting all over again, enjoying making music, but
with all the experience they've accumulated along the way. What
we hear is a band rediscovering itself, simply in love with the
music they make together and the bond they share. That's the message.
The bond they share, aside from the music is The Land they (we)
live in. This album is full of the imagery of what they saw, felt,
and marvelled at when Midnight Oil decided to make this album, and
decided what to do at the Olympics, while camping under the stars.
The power is the music. The passion is for the sun that shines on
us, the earth we walk on, the view to the vast horizons. The opening
song 'The Golden Age' takes us from our TV screens out onto the
veranda to the jacaranda and the eucalypt. And that's where we stay
to wander until the final rallying call, 'Poets And Slaves'.
Listening
to the new Midnight Oil album the cynical, critical listener might
ask : "Where's the passion?" "Where's the message?" . This is a
'different' Midnight Oils album. If you're expecting the finger-pointing
soap-boxing Oils, you may not find them here. This time. And why
should you? They gave it to us in spadefuls with their last studio
album, 'Redneck Wonderland' but most of us weren't listening. Chances
are we won't listen to this album either, because we tend to take
our longer-standing artists for granted. Given that indifference
the Oils seem to have made an album for themselves. And I'd like
to go down on record now to say that in time to come this album
will be seen as the beginning of a new chapter for Midnight Oil,
the re-gathering of the strength within. In making an album for
themselves and anyone who might care to listen, they've rediscovered
what's just as important as the messages, the music. This time,
you, as the listener, is going to have to do some "work", you'll
have to listen and find out what's to be discovered within. Subtly.
Nothing's being rammed down our throats. The last time most of us
saw the Oils was when they made that magnificent statement at the
Sydney Olympics, wearing those 'sorry' bearing clothes, so much
more powerful than a quick outburst at the microphone or a clenched
fist of rebellion. Boy, did they get their message across. Subtly.
Then, musically they gave us the 'Real Thing' album, the Oils' unplugged
leftovers, including a couple of new tracks recorded with the band
just sitting in a circle, playing. 'Capricornia' takes up from that
moment, the band more naked, unadorned and uncomplicated than we've
heard them in a long long time .. since 'Head Injuries' ... almost
like they were starting all over again, enjoying making music, but
with all the experience they've accumulated along the way. What
we hear is a band rediscovering itself, simply in love with the
music they make together and the bond they share. That's the message.
The bond they share, aside from the music is The Land they (we)
live in. This album is full of the imagery of what they saw, felt,
and marvelled at when Midnight Oil decided to make this album, and
decided what to do at the Olympics, while camping under the stars.
The power is the music. The passion is for the sun that shines on
us, the earth we walk on, the view to the vast horizons. The opening
song 'The Golden Age' takes us from our TV screens out onto the
veranda to the jacaranda and the eucalypt. And that's where we stay
to wander until the final rallying call, 'Poets And Slaves'.