There’s only one word in the English language that could possibly describe Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s voice: Sublime. If it doesn’t reach inside and latch onto your soul, it’s because you don’t have one.
This is the type of music that, as soon as you hear the first few clean, clear, high tenor notes, you get goosebumps. Big time. This is not a guy singing to make a few bucks. This is not a guy singing to become famous. This is a guy singing because he has stories to tell, pure and simple. The stories are of himself and the creation stories from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people. Geoffrey’s is a crisp, clear, and gentle voice, yet powerful and melodic. He will make other guitar crooners – if they’re smart – want to hang themselves with their strings, or change their career plans.
Only two of the dozen songs on this CD are in English, but I hardly noticed. It was as if I could understand the lyric in spite of being in a different language. He’s got that kind of a voice, plus his music appeals to people who don’t generally have Aboriginal artists in their listening scheme.
Geoffrey, or Gudjuk as he is also called, comes from the Gumatj nation, while his mother comes from the Galpu nation. Both are First Nations peoples whose roots are in Australia’s North East Arnhemland and Elcho Island, off the coast. If any of this sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because George Burarrwanga, lead singer of the Warumpi Band, also came from Elcho Island. The Warumpi Band toured with Midnight Oil over twenty years ago. The Legacy Edition of their CD Diesel and Dust was recently released, along with a DVD which is about the tour, and includes performances with the Warumpi Band.
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