Marni: Music for Slow Television

This is the soundtrack to a fascinating two-and-a-half hour observational documentary that chronicles the painting of a large intricate work, ‘Ngarndu Marni’, by Aboriginal artist, Yindjibarndi elder and songwoman Allery Sandy. As a film, the story unfolds very slowly, as befits a genre that has previously challenged viewers to watch lengthy train and ship journeys in real time. But while those experiments are largely laborious and uneventful, watching visual art being created is a more productive, if unhurried, process.

The soundtrack is a minimalist collaboration between Melbourne producer-keyboardist David Bridie (Not Drowning Waving, My Friend the Chocolate Cake) and Sandy, who also contributes traditional indigenous vocals to her painting journey. There are also occasional male vocals from Pilbara man Patrick Churnside, and some atmospheric guitar work from Phil Wales and Rosie Excess. With his inventive keyboard ambience wafting in and out, Bridie successfully mirrors the West Australian landscape that Sandy evokes through her painting and voice. Focusing on looking after country and the importance of preserving traditional language, from both an audio and visual perspective Marni (‘marking’ in Yindjibarndi), is a deeply hypnotic project. And it provides a rewarding experience for those who can slow down long enough to appreciate it.