‘Akilotoa: Anthology 1994-2006

Known for their close harmonies and full-throated performances, sisters Vika and Linda Bull first burst onto the Australian music scene in the 80s and 90s as featured singers in Melbourne band The Black Sorrows. They’ve since guested as backing-vocalists-of-choice for many other acts, as well as firmly establishing their own duo career. Able to effortlessly move between blues, soul, gospel and even country-tinged material, this retrospective double album features tracks from seven of their albums between 1994-2006, a Black Sorrows hit and one newly recorded song.

Mixing originals with arrangements of songs by fellow Aussies Paul Kelly, Joe Camilleri and others, there are also versions of Nina Simone’s showtune ‘Feeling Good’ and The Staple Singers’ ‘Two Wings’. Three live tracks from 2004’s Tell the Angels are particularly impressive, especially their full-gospel take of ‘Who Rolled the Stone Away’.

Calling upon their mother’s Tongan heritage, the anthology’s beautiful Polynesian title-track is sung in language, while the moving ‘Grandpa’s Song’ (from 1997’s Princess Tabu) mourns the loss of their grandfather, and features Tonga’s Mosi Mosi Kava Club. With a long-awaited new Vika & Linda album currently being recorded, this beloved duo’s stellar career thankfully still has a long way to run.