CD REVIEW: Various Artists – NIMA Presents The Sound of Indigenous Australia – Now & Before

Shane | 26 February 2018 | Reply

CD REVIEW: Various Artists – NIMA Presents The Sound of Indigenous Australia – Now & Before
Warner Brothers
July 2017
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9/10

This is a fascinating collection, comprising two discs full of the sound of a thriving Indigenous music scene from right around the country.

As the title suggests, it’s broken into ‘Now’ and ‘Before’, with the latter disc featuring such established names as Yothu Yindi, Archi Roach, Kev Carmody with Paul Kelly, Christine Anu and The Warumpi Band.

Over on the Now disc we sample some of the well-earned fury of the younger generation, such as Ziggy Ramo, Jessica Mauboy, Busby Marou, Dan Sultan and A.B. Original’s instant classic Australia Day.

As should be expected, many of the tracks herein are protest songs, and there is a palpable anger throughout. A collection such as this can only highlight the injustices done and the problems faced by our indigenous communities, and spread awareness, hopefully evoking a real change in attitudes and actions that is long, long overdue.