Blekbala Mujik’s self-titled album

Well its been around the 11 year mark since my first post here on the
jan 26 weekend.
I see the debate about changing the date has become more
mainstream in the last decade and I see a whole lot of people think
that this is some new thing driven by politically correct snowflakes,
but sorry to say it isnt
Ive been standing in solidarity with our first nation people concerning
this for some 35 years I was a young teenager when I first heard how
and why this is a divisive date
I recently came across a publication from 1938 that shows the very
same sentiments and concerns we see today, not much has changed
Check it out!

Anyway it seems the conservative side of politics here is threatened
by the growing move to change this bad taste poorly conceived
celebration of the beginning of a brutal British penal colony
 Good bugger them
Anyway heres some brilliant music from the Australians most
left out by all this
Download and play it loud today
Recorded over 5 years, Blekbala Mujik’s self-titled album
was described by Bruce Elder in 1995 (Sydney Morning Herald)
as ‘…the most artistically successful and commercial recording
released by CAAMA Music.’
The success of the album propelled the band onto the WOMAD
stage in Spain, a tour of Europe and the USA
and into the mainstream Australian Music Scene.

Reminiscent of Yothu Yindi’s electrified sounds
and infectious grooves (both bands share Ian Faith as producer),
Blekbala Mujik’s debut also hints of the Desert Reggae scene,
which was yet to come to the forefront of
the Central Australian Music.
From the catchy and exuberant ‘Drangkinbala’,
with it’s Caribbean Reggae feel to the surprising mix of
traditional singing and synthesizers on ‘Come-n-Dance’
this is a eclectic and exciting album,
which still sounds fresh nearly 20 years on.

Blekbala Mujik (May 1996)
CAAMA/Shock Records

Tracklist

01 - Mimi - Wajbagada
02 - Walking Together
03 - Drangkinbala
04 - Buffalo Stampede
05 - Don't Worry Just Be Happy
06 - Come n Dance
07 - White Cockatoo
08 - Mibala Yubala
09 - Mimi
10 - Walls
11 - One More Story
12 - Farewell

Download here

Jimmy Little - Messenger

Well its that day again when many celebrate the nation of
Australia and many don't instead celebrating survival
and remembering the begining of a series of crimes
against their people.
And many of us stand in solidarity with the first nation
people of this great southern land

For myself I'm one of those, no waving the british flag for me
It is also the day this blog began, 10 years ago today I made
my first post and I still do every 26th of jan mark this time
with a post and a great Aboriginal artist
Jimmy Little was a pioneer, a trailblazer whos long and amazing
career was the inspiration for many indigenous artists after
From 1960 until 2012 he release over 30 albums, this album
Messenger is from 1999 and is him definitive collection of
Australian songs of the 1980's
There are many of this blogs fav artists in there
So download and put this on what ever your doing
and remember this ancient land has a proud and strong
past that stretchers back over 40 000 years

Track listing
01 Down Below (Cruel Sea)
02 Under the Milky Way (The Church)
03 The Way I Made You Feel  (Ed Kuepper)
04 Randwick Bells (Paul Kelly)
05 Quasimodo's Dream (Reels)
06 Into Temptation (Crowded House)   
07 Cattle and Cane (Go-Betweens)
08 (Are You) The One I've Been Waiting For (Nick Cave)
09 Black Fella / White Fella (Warumpi Band)
10 Alone With You (Sunnyboys)
11 Bring Yourself Home to Me (The Jackson Code)
 

Download Here

The Rough Guide to Australian Aboriginal Music - Various Artists

Well its been 8 years now since this blog began
and its that time of year I post my annual invasion day post
This year Ive notice the movement for changing the date has
transitioned to the mainstream and gaining momentum perhaps
we will change this incredibly bad taste day for a more inclusive
one. In the meantime heres some tracks to play and remember what
January is really about.

  Track List

1. Dusty Legune & Campbell Allenbar: Saltwater (2:17)
2. ListenRuby Hunter: Kurongk Boy, Kurongk Girl (3:33)
3. ListenArchie Roach: Native Born (3:59)
4. ListenTjapukai Dancers: Tjapukai Sunset (2:09)
5. ListenRimijmara: Wonga Initiation Song (1:41)
6. ListenMark Atkins: Bullima (4:31)
7. ListenWaak Waak Jungi: Kava Song (5:49)
8. ListenJimmy Murray: Drag Net (1:17)
9. ListenTjupukai Dancers: Heart Of My People (6:05)
10. ListenChristine Anu: Sik O (3:11)
11. ListenArnhem Land: Nyindi-Yindi (3:44)
12. ListenGapu: Celebration (4:44)
13. ListenAlan Maralung: Bushfire (3:30)
14. ListenDavid Page: Black (11:54)

Download here

Kutcha Edwards - Hope

Well its that time of the year we here in Australia
very strangely celebrate the birth of a nation
of the day a bunch of british land thieves landed
or as Kev Carmody put it "the first boat people land"
And the destruction of the oldest continuing society  
on earth began.
The incredible bad taste I view this with is almost
as big as the contempt I feel for Nationalism and
its inevitable displays of contempt for those who
have suffered as a result of this evil
Kutcha Edwards isn't as well known as some of the
amazing murri koori artists but he should be.
His story is inspirational, his songs so very moving
and this album is a landmark album in that regard
His song " Is that what we deserve is" is a song that
should be played around the country tomorrow,
Cause we all know that's the message this country
needs to hear, maybe then you can all pick a nicer
date for your flag waving.
So download this brilliant work and play it loud
tomorrow!
Tomorrow also is the day this blog celebrates its
birthday and in 2016 the SSS blog turns 8 years old.

Download Here

Joe Geia-Yil Lull

Well its been 7 years since this blog began and I know I don't
post too often these days but we are still here. My tradition is to
post an Aboriginal artist on the day some call Australia Day
and others Invasion Day the day this blog began.
And what better artist than the great Joe Geia and his 1988 debut
Yil Luli. The title track should be our national anthem, it is a
brilliant timeless classic. Joe is one of the trailblazing murri
artists a man who inspired many who have followed.
As a member of No Fixed Address from 1982 to 1983 he later
began his solo career releasing 3 albums and working with
many other artists
So download this album and play it loud tomorrow

Download Here

Coloured Stone - Koonibba Rock.

Well its invasion day here again in Australia, the day that in rather
bad taste Australia celebrates its very own nationalist day on the
day that the 1st fleet arrived at Sydney Cove to set up a penal
colony and start the invasion of this country.
Not really a great day to celebrate!
The people whom were the custodians of this land were then subject
to some of the worst treatment of people in history.
This is also the day that the SSS blog began back in 2008 and is
now 6 years old. Every year on this day I post as I did back
at the beginning a record from one of the great Australian Aboriginal
artists and today its the trailblazing Coloured Stone
Hailing from Koonibba some 8 hours drive northwest of Adelaide in
South Australian, this band was among the first to put out records
and this their first Lp from 1985 contains their classic 1984 single
Black Boy which went to number 1 in Fiji and sold some 120000
copies. Still going today it is Bunna Lawies band, being the lead
singer and songwriter he has kept producing fine music for over
30 years and some 13 Lps with the latest due out this year

So download and play this this Australia day!



Download Here

Buried Country: Original Film Soundtrack

I recently saw this doco on NITY I think, a brilliant piece of
historical documenting and well worth seeing if you have any
interest in Australian Indigenous music.
There some amazing stuff here, but its the shear guts and
determination of the early pioneers of Murri and Koori music
that I found the most inspiring.
It was hard enough to break into the music scene in the 50's and 60's
in Australia and that was especially true for indigenous artists.
The story telling aspect of country music was for Aboriginal
people very much in tune with their culture and country music
became a new vehicle to express that.
Its a tradition that continues to this day!

Download CD 1 Here

Download CD 2 Here

Up Late - One Night Only. Archie Roach, The Medics and Bunna Lawrie

Never one to miss a chance to see Archie live I'm posting this gig I just
heard about. I'm sure a few of the blog readers will be excited, I am!
Not only Archie but also the Medics, Bunna and an new art exhibition!
Here's the information

5.30–9.30PM SATURDAY 1 JUNE
GOMA | FREE ENTRY

Celebrate the opening of ‘My Country, I Still Call Australia Home:
Contemporary Art from Black Australia’ with a night of music
and a chance to see the exhibition after hours.
At ‘My Country’ Up Late, enjoy special musical performances by
Archie Roach, together with the Medics
and special guest Bunna Lawrie (Coloured Stone).

Entry to My Country Up Late – One Night Only is free
and no bookings are required.

http://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/coming_soon/my_country/up_late_-_one_night_only

Coloured Stone - rhythm of nature (1998)

Well its that day here in Australia that's referred 

to Australia Day by some, by others Invasion Day and 

a new name I have heard this year is a change from

Invasion Day to Survival Day.

I have since I can remember called it Invasion Day, but I'm happy
with Survival Day. The date for those who don't know is the
anniversary of the arrival of the 1st fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.
The 1st fleet being a shipment of criminals and their not very nice
keepers from Great Britain here to set up a dumping ground for
their problems, nothing to celebrate there if you ask me.
Even less when you consider this was the start of an invasion
that wrecked havoc and death upon the indigenous keepers of
this land. There is no shortage of more appropriate days to
celebrate Australian nationalism if you must so lets change it from
this ridiculous celebration of Britain dumping its criminals here
    

 I started this blog on this weekend 5 years ago and every year I have
a word and share some wonderful music from those people who have
been most insulted by this celebration.
Coloured Stone are one of the longest established Australian
indigenous band who first had success with their 1st single Black boy
back in 1984.This 1998 album is wonderful and includes the very
topical track Survival.

Happy 5th Birthday to the SSS blog !!!

Track List

01 Imagination

02 Singing In The Rain

03 Black Is Beautiful (Dance Version)

04 I Wanna Dance With You

05 Red Dustroad

06 Don't Forget That I Love You

07 Born Aborigine

08 Whale Dance Song

09 Rhythm Of Nature

10 Survival

11 Black Is Beautiful (Acoustic Version)

12 I Remember You

13 Love Grows Stronger

14 Sound Of The Whale

15 Miss You

16 Forgotten Tribe

Download Here

David Hudson - Rainbow Serpent

David Hudson is one of the leading masters of the didjeridu,

A Murri from the Tjapukai people in Kuranda, North Queensland,

he mastered the didjeridu and interpretive dances of his tribe at an

early age. He was co-founder of the Tjapukai Dance Company which,

over the past decade, has become one of Australia's premier tourist

attractions. Based outside of Cairns the group started offering short

performances, expanded into a purpose-built theatre and has

developed into Australia's first Aboriginal theme park.

Rainbow Serpent is his 1994 Celestial Harmonies release,

a masterpiece of ancient tradition fused with the digital under

the watchful eye of pioneering ambient electronic musician

Steve Roach.

Download Here

Kintore Gospel Band and Mt Liebig Band - Western Desert Gospel

Back in 1990 I did a pilgrimage of sorts to the Northern Territory,
I was looking to experience Aboriginal Australia and the real Australia
that I had heard so much about. It was an incredible experience
and I came back very different.
While in Alice I picked up a couple of Cassettes, the kind of thing
that you didn't see outside of the center.
This is one of them and is my first cassette digitization.
I have a few interesting cassettes to blog as I rescue them from
being lost. This music is wonderful Western Desert music,
beautiful, relaxing unlike anything else. It transports me back to
the desert with its rich colours and isolation.
I'm hoping that this music will find fans all over the world and
no matter where you are the western desert will come to you!
Right now Brisbane is anything but a desert, we have had so
much rain for so long now I can't remember anything like it
since 1974 when Brisbane went under.
I was rather young then so my memories are very dim.
This is music to brighten up the wettest day!


Download here

Mixed relations - Take It Or Leave It

In 1988 Bart Willoughby founding member of the legendary
No fixed Address was asked to join the newly formed Yothu Yindi
as drummer on their Diesel & Dust tour, visiting 73 cities throughout
the USA on what Willoughby thought was a very strenuous tour.
In 1989 Willoughby left Yothu Yindi and formed his new band
Mixed Relations. This band gave him the opportunity to come out
from behind the drums and develop his music into a big sound
fueled by some of the best musicians, black and white, in the country.
The band also released an album.
The song "Take It Or Leave It" is a true anthem.
One of those songs that has a power that transcends what
is normally associated with music, hear it to believe it.
But they're all fantastic songs and "My Father/Devil Man"
is an incredible almost 7 minute masterpiece.
Which isn't to say the other 2 songs aren't equally
good, cause they are Childrens Tomorrow/Hard Love
is an equally long and incredible love song unlike
any love song you have ever heard and
"Salvation" is perhaps his best song outside
"Message For Young and old"
Bart has the ability to speak direct to the heart
and is a true spokesman for his people and
his generation.

Take It Or Leave It - Bart Willoughby

Walking on this land for a long long time
Gives us the power of dreamtime all the time
Walking and talking and finding out whats right
Gives us the power of dreamtime all the time, why!!

We go back further than you think,
Further than the city
We go back further than you think,
Further than the cities been

Take it or leave it, its the truth.
Take it or leave it, its the truth.

We've got to make our solution without confusion
Got to tell the kids, Got to tell the kids'
Where they really come from.
We can't sit around now and wait for the
weather to change
We got to make our move with a
little help from our friends

Take it or leave it, cause you know its the truth.
We got our own foundation and that's our blues
We've got to resist now so we can exist
A matter of mind, a matter of time,
it doesn't really matter
cause we're not blind

We go back further than you think,
Further than the city
We go back further than you think,
Further than the cities been

Take it or leave it, its the truth.
Take it or leave it, its the truth.

Track List
01 - Childrens Tomorrow/Hard Love
02 - Take It Or Leave It.
03 - My Father/Devil Man
04 - Salvation.

Download Here

George Rrurrambu - Nerbu Message

George Rrurrambu is a pioneer of Aboriginal rock music.
In a career that began over twenty years ago with his
internationally acclaimed band, Warumpi,
(who recorded the first ever rock song in an Aboriginal language),
or more recently as a solo professional artist,
George is a respected and proud ambassador for his culture.
He is a living legend to Aboriginal people all over Australia
and much loved by non-Indigenous Australians for
Warumpi's anthemic songs Blackfella Whitefella and My Island Home.
He has achieved mainstream success both in Australia
and overseas and was this year recognised at the inaugural NT Music
Industry Awards for his contribution to the music industry.
George last toured with Warumpi in 1999.
He has since performed at FIGJAM Indigenous Music Concert,
Festival of Darwin 2000, Yeperenye Federation Festival;
recorded a solo reggae album Nerbu Message and
toured to Europe in 2002 with Melbourne outfit Bomba.
George has also turned his talents to theatre and
recently performed NERRPU Dhawu Rrurrambuwuy
(The story of George Rrurrambu) at the Darwin Entertainment Center.
He is in demand around the country as a speaker lecturing on
Yolngu culture and music and has conducted cultural workshops
in Berlin and Amsterdam. George is committed to his culture and
country with a strong desire to create a better future for the next
generation through productive partnerships with the balanda (whitefella).
In 2007, on June the 10th George died at the age of 50 after a long
battle with cancer,after his death he became known as
George Burarrwanga for cultural reasons.


Track list

1. Eastern Wind
2. Galuku
3. Boomerang
4. Lapu
5. Freedom, Peace and One World
6. Djantpangarri
7. Marrayilyil
8. Djutarra
9. Ronu Wanga (My Island Home)
10. Watu
11. Guyularri
12. Wake Up Australia

Download Here

Warumpi Band and Yothu Yindi Live

Many thanks to New Race over at the Aus Rock forum for
this radio quality live material from the Warumpi Band
and Warumpi Yothu Yindi Live at an unknown time and
place in the early 90's.
If anyone knows any information I would be happy to
hear it.
Theres some classic Warumpi songs here
with Jailanguru Pakarnu, Fitzroy crossing,
No Fear, Waru (Fire), Blackfella/Whitefella,
From the bush plus 5 Yothu Yindi tracks.

Heres a bit of Warumpi Band history.

The Warumpi Band originated in the Aboriginal settlement of
Papunya in the central desert region of the Northern Territory
in the early eighties.

The band's name derives from the honey-ant dreaming site
located near the settlement of Papunya which is 260 ks west
of Alice Springs. Original founding members were
Sammy and Gordon Butcher, Neil Murray,George Rrurrambu
assisted by other young fellas in the community.

The band was formed in 1980 by Neil Murray, a Victorian
"whitefella" working in the region as a schoolteacher
and labourer, George Burarrwanga, from Elcho Island,
and local boys Gordon and Sammy Butcher.
Over the years, many different people played in the band
at various times. The only consistent elements were
Murray and Burarrwanga, with Sammy Butcher generally
being available so long as band commitments didn't take
him too far from home for too long.



In 1983, the band recorded "Jailanguru Pakarnu",
the first song using an aboriginal language in a rock'n'roll format.
This created some mainstream media interest,
and the band made a few trips to the big cities of
Melbourne and Sydney for gigs and TV appearances.

In Sydney, they built up a loyal following in the Sydney
northern beaches pub rock scene, and played as support
to Midnight Oil. In 1985 the band released their debut album
"Big Name, No Blankets", featuring the track "Blackfella/Whitefella".

In 1986, Midnight Oil and the Warumpi Band embarked on the
"Blackfella/Whitefella Tour" which brought one of Australia's
biggest bands to some of the country's remotest locations.
The resulting Midnight Oil album, "Diesel and Dust"
was an international hit and brought the issues of land rights
and aboriginal reconciliation into the national spotlight.


The Warumpi Band recorded their second album, "Go Bush!"
after the tour, but the strain of balancing family commitments
with the band took its toll and they were unable to capitalise
on the groundswell created by the Blackfella/Whitefella tour.

Neil Murray embarked on a solo career in 1990, though the
band still reunited when it fitted in amongst their other activities.

1996 saw the release of their third and final album
"Too Much Humbug", and a renewed (if brief) commitment
including a European tour. Burarrwanga is reputed to have
arrived in Paris and been amazed that people in this
so-called civilised nation couldn't even speak English -
after all, he himself spoke nearly a dozen different
languages of the north of Australia.

In the following years, reunion gigs were sporadic,
generally for festivals and other one-off appearances.
In 2000, Neil Murray decided enough was enough
and retired from the band for good, concentrating on
his solo career which by that time had produced several
critically acclaimed albums.

George Burarrwanga continued to perform as a solo artist,
and released an album. In 2007, he returned to his
"Island Home" when lung cancer took him,
and he died on June 10th of that year.

Sammy Butcher remains heavily involved with a recording
studio in Alice Springs, bringing the opportunity to record to
outback youth. He has also recorded an album of
instrumental guitar songs.

Download Here
Part 1,
Part 2

Warumpi Band - Go Bush

The Warumpi Band are the stuff of music legend, a band which
came out of the western desert region of central Australia,
a melding of black and white culture that was groundbreaking
in so many ways. This their 2nd album (of 3) gave us one
of the greatest Australian songs ever penned "My Island Home"
Heres what Neil Murry says about it

“My island home” came to me on a bus one night in
June 1985 while traveling from Melbourne to Sydney.
The antecedents are clear. I had been living in the
deserts of Central Australia for some six years,
estranged from the fresh water country of my
youth in western Victoria. The Warumpi Band
had just completed a national tour and at the
conclusion of it I had spent a week with our
singer George Rrurrambu, at his home at Galiwinku
( Elcho Island) in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
We were camped on a remote part of the island
with his family and had been living like kings on
bush tucker and sea food caught by ourselves.
It seemed like paradise at the time. I had to leave
and make trips to Melbourne and Sydney in mid
winter to promote the band. On the overnight
bus trip to Sydney I suffered an exceptional
longing to be back in a boat on a tropical sea.
The words came to me, I was singing it in my head.
I had no notebook with me. I held onto the tune
till I got to Sydney and pulled my guitar out of the
luggage to find the chords. I completed the verses
with a view to George Rrurrambu singing it,
which he did. The Warumpi Band recorded
“My Island Home” in 1986, released in 1987.
Christine Anu released her version a decade later
The Tiddas recorded a lovely version for the film
“Radiance”. George Rrurrambu has included a
Gumatj language version of the song on his
debut solo album ”Nerbu Message” I know that
the song has also been recorded and released
by a group in Tahiti.
cheers,
Neil Murray.

My Island Home - Neil Murray
Six years I've been in the desert
And every night I dream of the sea
They say home is where you find it
Will this place ever satisfy me

And my island home
my island home my island home
is waiting for me

For I come from the salt water people
We always lived by the sea
Now I'm out here west of Alice Springs
With a wife and a family

And my island home
my island home my island home
is waiting for me

In the evening the dry wind blows
From the hills and across the plains
I close my eyes and I'm standing in a boat
on the sea a-gain
And I'm holding that long turtle spear
and I feel I'm close now to where it must be

And my island home
my island home my island home
is waiting for me


Download Here

Amunda - Civilised World

Amumda is devrived from the Arrente word for meeting place
which is associated with the spring at Heavitree Gap in the
MacDonnell Ranges at Alice Springs.

This the 2nd release from Amunda is an unknown gem of a CD.
Formed in 1985 this album was recorded in 1991, their 1st
release being the tape only "Better late than never"
released in 1989.
This album sometimes sounds like a polished version of
the western desert sound, sometimes rock, other times
a little bit country(in a nice way) and even a bit jazzy.
Both vocalists Paul and Rachael excel and the musicians
are first rate.
This is music from the heart of Australia, music from a
part of the country few Australians living on the outside
edges of the country have a clue about.
When I visited the western desert in 1990 I discovered a
a place that looked and felt so alien to my concept of
Australia I was shocked.The odd feeling of being so far
from the ocean, the isolation of being in the middle of one
of the largest and most isolated deserts in the world.
You meet people for whom English is their 3rd
language, with maybe Pitjantjatjara as the 1st,
German as the 2nd. Thats because in 1877 two Lutheran
missionaries from Germany made an overland trek from
Bethany in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia
to set up a permanent mission which became Hermansburg,
beating the frontier to the center.
In Alice I discovered a town of 25000 that had something
like 5000 US servicemen and their families living in this
small community, that is such a long way from any large
population center, working in the military base "Pine Gap"
This is music that has that authentic feel, that speaks to
you of concerns from a place you may or may not relate to,
but its worth trying.

Track List
01 Roll on the wind
02 Civilised world
03 Look around
04 Ain't right to me
05 Heart beat
06 Don't look back
06 Soldier
07 Feel it
08 Jam in B minor
09 Living on a dream
10 Kid's inside
11 Take
12 Is it real
13 How could I know.



Download Here

From Little Things Big Things Grow - The Get Up Mob

I was very excited to hear about this piece of musical political
activism, the anthem written by Kev and Paul by a waterhole,
around a camp fire in the early 90's, has been transformed
under the direction of Urthboy from the herd, into a inspirational
anthem for this country to move forward.
I know its never that easy, but music can change attitudes.

The apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008 marked a
place in Australian history that The GetUp Mob -
featuring Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly, Urthboy and Missy Higgins,
have commemorated with the release on April 21 of the new GetUp
StandUp version of
'From Little Things Big Things Grow'.

This is the first step, in a new beginning for Australia as a nation,
to mature, denial of the past makes the future a lie - through
history the victors have written the history of the vanquished...
this contemporised version of the song transforms us from a
negative concept of the past to the positive possibilities
of the future...as someone once said
'from little things big things grow'.

Kev Carmody

From Little Things Big Things Grow has its roots in songs like
Woody Guthrie's Deportees and The Lonesome Death
Of Hattie Carroll by Bob Dylan.
And those songs grew out of the soil of other older songs.
The Get Up Mob just added another branch to the tree.
Long may it fruit.

Paul Kelly

I see 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' as a soundtrack
to positive change in this country. If it serves to accompany �
regular Aussies� in pursuing their own form of practically
reconciling - then we're in business. As plain as the day
itself we need to close the health and access gap between
indigenous and non-indigenous people.

Tim Levinson - Urthboy

Some moments in a nation's history are so significant,
so uplifting and so unifying they become the inspiration
for artists, thinkers and dreamers.
They turn those moments into the food which nourishes
the nation's soul - this song captures the hopes and
dreams of a nation; a vision for a shared future and
a desire for that moment to become a springboard
towards equality.

Brett Solomon - Executive Director, GetUp

See the video here

Download here

Wrong Side Of The Road - No Fixed Address and Us Mob

Wrong Side Of The Road is a ground breaking 1981 Australian film,
road movie, rock documentary, musical drama, it followed 2 days of
life on the road for two Aboriginal rock/reggae bands which were
largely unknown to mainstream Australia.
Its a great film, I have it on video somewhere, it tackled
the taboo subject of racism in Australia head on, a topic which one
would say still is pretty taboo.
Each band gets a side each on the album, No fixed address later
released their groundbreaking Ep "From My Eyes"
(Which was my very first post), I don't believe Us Mob ever
made back into the studio again.


No Fixed Address have 6 wonderful reggae tracks on the 1st side
of this soundtrack. The classic anthem "We have Survived" which
turns up later on their Ep, plus the wonderful dub Version of "The Vision"
They were a fantastic band which were completely overlooked.


Us Mob are a completely different thing, I always felt aboriginals
playing reggae, or say country, were doing what you would
expect them to do naturally,
the rhythmic nature of reggae makes a natural fit,
much like hip hop today is. I have to admit I never understood
the country thing, but loads of murries love it and they play
it well. Us Mob however play hard rock, early 70's style,
now someone who is more familiar with this music may be
far better equipped to say who they seem to be influenced
by than me, but there is a strong rock blues influence
and its quite enjoyable but wild ride.
Not what you may expect from an indigenous band in the early
80's, but stereotypes were made to be broken.
This record is however a historical document,
these bands were pioneers and this is the first record
of its kind to come out.
The cover also has a gatefold sleeve which has the
aboriginal flag and all the lyrics printed over the top.

We Have Survived - Bart Willoughby

You can't change the rhythm of my soul,
you can't tell me just what to do.
You can't break my bones by putting me down,
or taking the things that belong to me.

Cause we have survived, the white mans world
and the horror and the torment of it all.
We have survived, the white mans world
and you know, you can't change that.

All the years has just passed me by,
I've been hassled by the cops nearly all my life.
People trying to keep me so blind,
but I can see whats going on in my mind.

Cause we have survived, the white mans world
and the horror and the torment of it all.
We have survived, the white mans world
and you know, you can't change that.


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