Van Diemen's Land

There will be a new solo album from Sam Lee in the spring. Meanwhile he and Notes Inégales, a cutting-edge outfit of musicians from the classical, jazz and folk worlds, have created this voyage from England to the eponymous island (now Tasmania). It is a psychological as well as geographic journey – from home, family, lovers and friends, to the bleak alienation and loneliness of exile.

Opener ‘Rambling Boys’ warns against the dangers of poaching and the risks of transportation. ‘Deep Blue Sea’, ‘Botany Bay – Bad Company’, ‘Suit of Blue’ and ‘Laurel Green’ conjure the long voyage and the dreams and fears that attend it. ‘Flash Company’ dwells on disease and hallucination waiting once the strange new land is reached. This is not a happy tale.

Lee's singing style, influenced by the Gypsies from whom he has learned some of these songs, has always been ornate. Here he rambles and meanders around the melodies more than ever. This evokes mystery and is expressive of the fear, regret, longing and delirium of the poor convicts in the songs. It does not, though, serve the narratives well. There is a danger of losing touch with the story, as well as the melody and, without much variation of pace, things drag on a bit. Still, Lee's departure is ambitious, intriguing and moving.