Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Midnight Oil, Sony Music 2020.
The second single by the Oils to be released as part of their commitment to the Makarrata project is First Nation and the eagerly awaited seven song mini album is slated for release on the 30th of this month.
First Nation features Jessica Mauboy and Tasman Keith and the combination of Jessica’s beautiful voice with Peter Garrett’s distinctive vocals is a perfect mix.
Tasman Keith’s great rap lends another authentic voice to the recording.
Once again the big issues concerning reconciliation are explored including a voice to parliament, treaty and compensation.
I really love Tasman Keith’s contribution which moves Midnight Oil into the modern “mainstream’ of popular music while they still maintain that authentic Oils intensity and sound.
It’s been nearly 20 years since Midnight Oil has released a new full length album and the anticipation has really been ramped up considerably by these two singles.
A few days ago the band revealed the full track listing for the album along with the complete list of indigenous collaborators.
They represent a vast cross-section of prominent first-nation artists from Jessica Mauboy, Alice Skye and Tasman Keith through established talents such as Leah Flanagan and Troy Cassar-Daley to revered elders Kev Carmody, Sammy Butcher and Frank Yamma.
One song also features the ethereal voice of the late great Gurrumul.
The album concludes with an all-star cast reading of The Uluru Statement From The Heart including prominent indigenous Australians Stan Grant, Ursula Yovich, Pat Anderson and Adam Goodes.
The full track listing is: First Nation; Gadigal land; Change The Date (featuring Gurrumul Yunupingu & Dan Sultan); Terror Australia (featuring Alice Skye); Desert Man, Desert Woman (featuring Frank Yamma); Wind In My Head (Makarrata Version – featuring Kev Carmody & Sammy Butcher); Uluru Statement From The Heart (read by Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich & Troy Cassar-Daley); Come On Down (featuring Troy Cassar-Daley).
