Ngulmiya

Ngulmiya (aka Grant) Nundhirribala hails from the Aboriginal community of Numbulwar, on the south-east coast of Indigenous Arnhem Land in Australia’s far north. Both a traditional songman and a contemporary musician who has led the locally-based Yilila band for over 20 years, on this, his debut solo album, Ngulmiya has chosen a decidedly new direction.

With his soaring voice accompanied by the subtly sympathetic strings of The Budapest Art Orchestra, with backing vocals from his own son Nayurryurr, and the minimalist piano-synth contributions of Melbourne musician Luke Howard, it’s an unusual combination that works perfectly. Vocally improvising over previously private traditional smoking-ceremony songs, such as ‘Ayanjanarri’ (Water Song) and ‘Gurumburra’ (Seagull Song), Ngulmiya sings in the local Wubuy language. He also includes a number of Dhumbala (Red Flag) songs, which chronicle his people’s centuries-old association with the Makassan traders of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) in present-day Indonesia, who originally came to Australia to harvest the culinary delicacy known as trepang (sea cucumber). Other standout tracks include the immensely powerful ‘Ma-Lhiyn’, ‘Bandhay’, a swelling ‘Dumilan’ and the achingly beautiful ‘Dhararri’. Seamlessly produced by Anthony Gray, this astonishing album confirms Ngulmiya as the purest, strongest and most impressive Australian Indigenous voice that we’ve heard since Gurrumul. Thoroughly gorgeous.