Bob
Geldof once stood in front of an audience of the Australian music
industry and told them Archie Roach was one of the greatest songwriters
in the world. That was after the release of Archie's first album,
'Charcoal Lane'. This is his fourth album, and over the course of
that journey, four albums in twelve years, Archie has grown both
as a songwriter and a singer. What attracted us in the first place
of course was the emotion of 'Took The Children Away', and the story
of Archie himself, how he lifted himself from the gutter of Charcoal
Lane and alcoholism through music. But Archie has avoided the trap
of being a 'one trick pony'. He's not simply an urban aboriginal
songwriter telling it like it is for his people. He's that, and
he's also a gifted musician, striving to grow his art. So over the
course of his four albums we've seen him emerge in his songs more
as a human being who is proudly and irrevocably an Australia aboriginal.
He's become better and better at writing about universal emotions,
and giving them his personal twist; and writing about very personal
issues and giving them a universal twist. He's become better and
better just at the art of writing good songs and giving them their
just performance. His songs are his voice, give voice to his people,
and make room for everyone else at the same time. That's quite a
feat. He tells his stories in that gentle melodic voice with its
slight Willie Nelson waver. Paul Kelly and David Bridie have produced
past efforts. This time Richard Pleasance does the majority of that
job. A sensitive songwriter himself, Richard brings out the warmth
and character in Archie's work. Richard also has a great ear as
a producer, and sprinkles wonderful understated musical colours
across the twelve songs. The surprise is 'Mission Ration Blues'
where Archie steps out of his customary balladeering mode and becomes
a blues singer, with Richard urging him on on slide guitar. On 'Many
Rivers Rise' Archie adopts a slight Bob Marley air. But most of
all we get Archie Roach at his best, caring, philosophical, melancholy,
enlightening, proud and resolved to be what he is. 'Move It On'
returns to his personal story, from his birthplace to being taken
from his family and ending up on those streets. 'Life Is Worth Living'
reminds his people, and the rest of us, that we can endure life's
hardships.
Bob
Geldof once stood in front of an audience of the Australian music
industry and told them Archie Roach was one of the greatest songwriters
in the world. That was after the release of Archie's first album,
'Charcoal Lane'. This is his fourth album, and over the course of
that journey, four albums in twelve years, Archie has grown both
as a songwriter and a singer. What attracted us in the first place
of course was the emotion of 'Took The Children Away', and the story
of Archie himself, how he lifted himself from the gutter of Charcoal
Lane and alcoholism through music. But Archie has avoided the trap
of being a 'one trick pony'. He's not simply an urban aboriginal
songwriter telling it like it is for his people. He's that, and
he's also a gifted musician, striving to grow his art. So over the
course of his four albums we've seen him emerge in his songs more
as a human being who is proudly and irrevocably an Australia aboriginal.
He's become better and better at writing about universal emotions,
and giving them his personal twist; and writing about very personal
issues and giving them a universal twist. He's become better and
better just at the art of writing good songs and giving them their
just performance. His songs are his voice, give voice to his people,
and make room for everyone else at the same time. That's quite a
feat. He tells his stories in that gentle melodic voice with its
slight Willie Nelson waver. Paul Kelly and David Bridie have produced
past efforts. This time Richard Pleasance does the majority of that
job. A sensitive songwriter himself, Richard brings out the warmth
and character in Archie's work. Richard also has a great ear as
a producer, and sprinkles wonderful understated musical colours
across the twelve songs. The surprise is 'Mission Ration Blues'
where Archie steps out of his customary balladeering mode and becomes
a blues singer, with Richard urging him on on slide guitar. On 'Many
Rivers Rise' Archie adopts a slight Bob Marley air. But most of
all we get Archie Roach at his best, caring, philosophical, melancholy,
enlightening, proud and resolved to be what he is. 'Move It On'
returns to his personal story, from his birthplace to being taken
from his family and ending up on those streets. 'Life Is Worth Living'
reminds his people, and the rest of us, that we can endure life's
hardships.