"Neil Murray sings from the heart of the country" – Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil)
One of Australia’s finest songmen, Neil Murray, has today released his new album The Telling. After three albums with the Warumpi Band and one with Sammy Butcher, The Telling is his 10th original solo album and marks a recording career of four decades since the Warumpi Band released their debut single – "Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out from Jail)" in 1983.
The Telling - recorded in Melbourne by Roger Bergodaz and mixed in Sydney by Ted Howard - contains some of Murray's strongest songs ever. Murray has never held back from the way he sees it and he’s not about to let up here, with a litany of injustice and loss- both historic and recent – explored on much of the album. The opening tracks “Broken Land”, “No Justice”, “Tears of Wybalenna” present a powerful and moving reckoning. “Rainbow Serpent and a Mine” (co- written with traditional owner Jack Green) brings graphic detail to the devastation wrought by the McArthur River mine near Borrooloola. “The Murrumbidgee” is an affirmation of perseverance and hope - despite environmental setbacks. The troubled affairs of the heart gain clarity in "Heal my Life", and the honouring of the departed are heard in “For Evermore” and "The Manager". A positive reflection on an indigenous town- "My Yuendumu Song" and a sea shanty - "If the Wind be Kind" round out the album.
The Telling features instrumental contributions from Bill Heckenberg,(drums), Craig Kelly, (bass) Stephen "Stretch" Teakle (keys, accordion, clavietta), Damien Neil (mandolin, guitar), Jack Howard (trumpet), Shane Reilly (pedal steel) with vocal harmonies from Grace Robinson and Damien Neil.
Neil and his band will launch The Telling with the following launch shows and tour dates. More shows to be added. A complete list of Neil's upcoming shows can be found here: NEIL MURRAY: GIG LIST
Photo by Jesse Marlow