GURRUMUL’S
‘DJARIMIRRI’
CAPTURES THE HEART OF AUSTRALIA:
Five-star reviews & iTunes #1, as social media outpouring leads to stock shortages
.
.
.
In an extraordinary weekend for Australian music, the release of Gurrumul’s final masterpiece ‘Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)’ has been met with both unprecedented critical acclaim and public demand with five-star reviews and reports of sell-out demand at retailers.
A wave of support built across Friday as people began to hear the landmark record for the first time and took to social media to express their joy, delight, sadness, gratitude and awe at the artistic achievement of Gurrumul’s unique fusion of two cultures into a true expression of reconciliation. The album wedged itself into the #1 iTunes position and has remained unmoved as the most unlikely chart hit of 2018 began its reign.
.
.
“We are in disbelief. Even as an optimist this would be difficult to believe. That Australia would embrace such a step away from the norm so immediately” said Gurrumul’s friend, producer and musical collaborator Michael Hohnen. “His was a refreshingly honest voice, expressing and sharing Yolngu life with truth and purity. This country sometimes learns about Indigenous culture through clickbait headlines, ill-informed political speeches and shock jocks. Djarimirri is the antidote- a simple and pure telling of his clan’s life and culture through music, the truly universal language. Despite working on this album with him for years, I speak to his family now and they point out many culturally significant words and meanings in the music that even I didn’t even know he had placed there. This album gives those who open their minds an understanding of Indigenous culture that transcends words and language and will continue to open its stories to us over the years as we continue to listen.”
“It says a lot about where we’re at as a country and a society that the most listened to, the most purchased and talked-about piece of music across the country this weekend is a crossover classical album completely in Indigenous languages by a blind singer from a remote island off the Northern Territory coast. This country seems ready to listen.”
The album precedes the cinema release of GURRUMUL, an astonishing documentary tracking his life and achievements written and directed by Paul Williams. The film had a standing ovation during its international premiere last week at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival and has rave reviews ahead of its public release in cinemas on April 25.
GURRUMUL is a portrait of an artist on the brink of global reverence and the struggles he and those closest to him faced in balancing family, country and traditional life with an international music career. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land. Living a traditional Yolngu life, GURRUMUL is a story of the clash of cultures behind the making of an Australian icon. ‘Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)’ completes the musical legacy of that story.
.
THE CRITICS HAVE THEIR SAY ON
‘DJARIMIRRI’
(CHILD OF THE RAINBOW)
.
“This is the point where ancient Aboriginal culture and modern western orchestral traditions fall into a loving embrace and a totally new music is born. Yes, this recording is that important.”
– Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★★
“As striking and important as anything that has emerged in several decades from Arnhem Land”
– Stephen Fitzpatrick, The Australian
★★★★½
“Equal parts hauntingly beautiful and devastatingly heartrending”
– Daniel Johnson, Courier Mail
★★★★½
“Such a fully formed and joyous album released posthumously makes for truly bittersweet listening.”
– Guido Farnell, The Music
★★★★½
“An epic listening experience on every level”
– Cameron Adams, Herald Sun
★★★★
“It may be Australia’s greatest musical masterpiece”
– Kathy McCabe, Daily Telegraph
“Beautiful & inspiring”
– Simon Collins, The West Australian
“Djarimirri stands as the singer’s final gift to the world, one last reminder that his rise to fame was more than deserved’
– Sam Fell, Good Weekend
“…an ambitious and utterly unique record.”
– Christie Eliezer, The Music Network
“Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) is such a magnificent achievement that it ensures Geoffrey Yunupingu’s talent and message will remain within the Australian psyche for the rest of time, even though they’re no longer tied to the man’s physical presence in this world.”
– Zoe Radas, Stack Magazine
“Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) surpasses any final musical message given to the world and is one of the most important records in Australian history.”
– Nick Devin, Medium
“Gurrumul’s boundary-breaking final album Djarimirri is one like no other.”
– Jesse Thompson, ABC
“This is a huge moment in Australian classical music where Yolngu culture and western tradition blend together”
– ABC Classic FM
“Mindblowingly brilliant”
– Simon Thomsen, Business Insider
.
‘Djarimirri
(Child of the Rainbow)’
was released on April 13 through
Skinnyfish Music / MGM Distribution
and is available to purchase
HERE
.
‘Gurrumul’
is released nationally in cinemas
on April 25 via Madman Entertainment.
.
.
