Djarimirri

This is one of the most truly unique pieces of music I have ever heard. It's albums like these that I wish were more present on the actual list. Something that truly surprises me. Melding ancient and modern in a most unexpected way. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

My choice. I chose this album because it is unlike everything else on the list. The musician led an extraordinary and unique life, with a voice many may not have heard. Despite not understanding the language, if you listen, the storytelling is still rich and beautiful. Something you must hear before you die.

Put this one on in the car without reading a thing about it and listened to the first three songs stunned. I had no idea what I was hearing but it was beautiful and arresting. Once I was home and continued the listen and read some background I was even more moved when I discovered this was Australian indigenous music mixed with modern orchestration. This is defintiely something that I cannot imagine would have entered my life but for this project and the user who put it here. What a wonderful gift!

Okay, thank you to whoever picked this one, for something very different and challenging in a way that all the indie rock hasn't been. Aboriginal Australian music?? Hell yeah. Really fantastic songs, cinematic soundscapes and mournful vocals (though I have no idea what's being sung). I like that the tracks are largely titled after animals or natural forces, so cool. I really dig this, appreciate the inclusion. Favorite tracks: Djolin, Baru, Gopuru, Wulminda. Album art: Just a shot of the artist, looking about as devastated and mournful as he sounds singing (if that is him). He passed away shortly before this was released, and this seems like a very powerful posthumous statement to release. 4/5

I liked this a lot. Very cool. 4 stars.

Another very interesting thing I likely would never have encountered without this project. The combination of classical and traditional aboriginal signing and instruments really worked for me.

Too oblique and ambient an effort to leave much impact - I’m of course missing the impact of the lyricism here, but an hour ten of orchestral tracks that all aim to be these grand, sweeping art pieces does not make for an LP with a sense of depth or progression. More movement and melodic variation in the instrumentals would’ve done a lot to give a sense of rise and fall, as is this just sounds like the final boss of the world’s fanciest open mic/slam poetry night.

Haunting groovy wonderful

An absolute gem of an album. Thank you!

Beautiful!

Really beautiful

The combination of classical music and the indigenous singing fits suprisingly well

This might be the best user submitted album that's entirely new to me. What an engaging listen.

Unique, deep, outstanding. Great recommendation, however I won't listen again

Really enjoyed this. Quite melodic and epic. I wish I knew what was being said, but I'd give this album another spin.

Interesting but will never listen to it again

Very good album. The production was incredible. Thanks for the recommendation, I wasn’t even aware of the existence of Gurrumul’s music.

This is really cool and unlike anything I've ever heard, whoever contributed this, thank you for sharing.

Ethereal instrumentals and soothing vocals = more of this!

Wasn't expecting to be listening to Australian Aboriginal music today, but what a great surprise. The guy who submitted this understood the assignment. A hidden gem. Thank you for sharing this.

Wow. *Huge* thanks to whoever put that album on the list. I didn't know the first thing about aboriginal artist Gurrumul, and this posthumous album presenting rich orchestral pieces displaying his distinctive vocals is a thing of wonder. You feel like you're watching the stars in the night skies of North Australia as you listen to it. It's so humbling that you can discover so much great music after going through 1001 albums (actually far more than that, with everything that couldn't go inside the original list). Music is a whole universe, seemingly without any boundaries. To the person who added this record, but also to anyone potentially interested in orchestral music: the instrumentations and arrangements written by Errki Veltheim and Michael Hohnen for this record obviously owe *a lot* to the groundbreaking works of minimalist and postminimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Very obvious influence here. So if you don't know those works and love this Gurrumul LP, I strongly advise you to check those names as well. It's a shame said key works are not in Dimery's book. I guess that the rationale was that there was no room for orchestral or "classical" music albums in his list, but I think that for their cases (and also adjacent contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, another obvious inspiration for mystical, mournful and hypnotic cut *Marrayarr* here), it's a huge mistake not to mention any of them. Because some of Reich and Glass and Pärt's full-length releases exactly fit with the 'modern album format'. Those composers are still alive, and they released LPs under their own names -- a huge difference with the usual performances of older orchestral music by symphony orchestras or smaller groups of classically-trained musicians all around the world, which would need their derivative 1001 Albums book with its own set of requirements. So in a sense, including *Djarimirri* sort of implies that you must also include ones from at least a couple of those minimalist composers. Not a problem for me. Not a problem at all. 🙂 Of course, what I'm saying here is a 100% "Western" perspective. Other positive views are possible. First, you'd need to point out that the minimalistic style of Reich and Glass also partly draws from the repetitive nature of African music, for instance. But more crucially when it comes to today's record, Gurrumul's enchanting or haunted vocals also bring specific warmth and emotion there that are obviously only his. It's the spark that probably makes the orchestral canvas around him accessible to many listeners with other tastes than mine. And there are also many instantly memorable vocal lines in those compositions ("Galiku", "Djolin", "Gaou"). I have sometimes stated that "global music" is so "large" that it would also need another book on the side. But listening to *Djarimirri*, it feels like it might also be unfair to exclude voices from all around the world in an overall list of albums to listen to before you die. Especially with a voice that is so stunning and beautiful. What we have here is a match made in heaven, nothing less. Hope that Gurrumul can smile from there after all this hard work. 4/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 1 (including "Djarimirri*, which will join works by Reich, Glass and Pärt in my own list) Albums from the users list I *might* include in mine later on: 2 Albums from the users list I won't include in mine: 2

Full of great compositions, but judging the experience of listening through the album, a 3 from me.

This was peaceful and nice

Okay, this was something really different from what I typically listen to. I might have to give a few extra spins to better grasp what it is that is exactly happening here, but on first listen it was already very interesting.

The media made a biiiiig song and dance about this guy when he died, and suddenly half my Facebook feed were big fans (they'd just never mentioned it until then, same as the ABC). Was a hot minute where I was inexplicably the only Australian who'd never heard of him. Or at least the only honest one. Ideological jabs at self-styled white "progressives" aside, it's pretty... interesting? Definitely not something I'd listen to a lot, or much at all, but I like the blending of old and new world-esque elements, in a tasteful way. There's no real get-up-and-go, but that's also not the idea. And if I'm honest, it's refreshing to see an indigenous musician enjoy some popularity (even if posthumous) without being a fucking rapper. But not a great album. 3/5.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Waak (crow)

Gorgeously arranged, with expressive vocals. This was really lovely, thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Waak (Crow), Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), Ngarrpiya (Octopus)

Bit longer than I would have liked, but interesting

There's some really cool orchestral/African fusion stuff on here but the whole time I was listening to it I couldn't stop wondering who loves this so much that they'd put it on this list. Most of the other albums I can see why it would be someone's fav but this is by far the most niche. Glad it's here because its an interesting album but still befuddling to me.

A fusion of Australian aboriginal traditional with classical orchestral. Interesting and relaxing. Rating: 3 Playlist track:Waak (Crow) in E-Flat Major Date listened: 04/11/24

The album certainly has moments of something original and personal with the traditional Aboriginal songs and melodies, but much to often the production is too slick turning it into some middle of the road pastiche. Too bad!

A nice sound. The voice is a good instrument. Some orchestral sections are very similar.

Really cool

Powerful and moving music, especially reading that he died before this album came out. Glad this was someone's suggestion.

It's dramatic, well composed, and moving. However, it's difficult to listen to. There are more than a few start and stops, but that sometimes adds to the drama and the suspense.

Didn't know what to make of it at first. Not entirely my thing, but surprisingly stirring in places, if a little overlong

Too ethnic for me, and not to mention the length. It has interesting sounds, they reminded me of the background music in the movies and that can be appreciated, but the vocals in their original language take me somewhere else. I appreciate that they want to send ethnic or cultural representatives but not all of us can appreciate and understand it as it should be in its place of origin.

It immediately starts off as very interesting... i like the soulful wailing mixed in with an orchestral backing. Not sure i've really ever heard that before. Its cool. But this is definitely part of the issue... my untrained ear thinks all these songs sound the same. At some level I couldn't have told you whether i listened to 12 different songs or the same song 12 times. Ended up being a bit of chore to get through.

A bit too airy for me.

Bro, who cares what key its in

Not one for me 👎🏻

Just no.

World, Aboriginal, classical crossover. Curioso, pero un rollo. Un 2. Encima laaaargo y machacón. Un 1 al final.

Wish I was able to enjoy this album as much as other people did, but I could t find myself interested in it. It is very cool an aborigine made this and it’s unfortunate that after he died did it really make an impact on the charts. Either way this isn’t for me and I wouldn’t listen to it again. 2.7/10