Beneath the Sun

A Murrungun man from Arnhem Land, singer-songwriter and actor Tom E Lewis is still best remembered for his murderous lead role in Fred Schepisi's iconic 1978 outback film The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. Lewis was only 20 at the time, and while early stardom took its toll, he's since balanced a creative life of music, theatre, film and community engagement. Having been one half of 90s jazz duo Lewis & Young, he made his solo debut in 2006, Sunshine After Rain, which was an award-winning combination of spoken word, soul-baring revelations and deep spirituality.

This latest release is a mostly upbeat collection of country-tinged road songs, bolstered by subtle horns and strings. Both sophisticated and rough-edged, Lewis’ world-weary vocals and search-for-identity lyrics are backed by Daddy Cool guitarist Ross Hannaford's reliable riffs. Warmly produced by Gurrumul's cohort Michael Hohnen, standout tracks include the rollicking ‘3 Crows’, a confessional ‘I Can’t Make it on My Own’ and a cover of the classic by Australian Crawl, ‘Reckless’. Great driving music for wide-open skies, these carefully crafted songs are fascinating and fun.