Guwak

The first thing most listeners would think upon hearing young Aboriginal band East Journey is that we’ve heard this before. Which is not to question their originality, but more to acknowledge their lineage. With its members related by kinship to seminal Arnhem Land group Yothu Yindi, and the band being mentored by its former frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu, it’s not surprising that their sound is remarkably similar. Yothu Yindi is remembered for raising the profile of indigenous music internationally, and their early 90s hits, ‘Treaty’ and ‘Tribal Voice’ still receive wide airplay. But due to Yunupingu’s declining health they stopped performing in 2007.

Highlighting Yolngu music tradition and culture, East Journey formed in late 2010 and are based in Yirrkala in the north-east Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory. Fronted by Mandawuy’s nephew Rrawun Maymuru, who won Best Emerging Talent at 2011’s National Indigenous Music Awards, he’s also sung with the local Garrangali Band and wrote one of the songs on cousin Gurrumul’s latest album Rrakala.

East Journey’s repertoire is based on the straight-ahead ‘saltwater reggae-rock’ that made their uncles famous, and on their debut album, they prove themselves to be a band with a lot of promise. Their songwriting skills are solid, singing in both English and Yolngu matha. Maymuru’s vocals may not be as sweet as Gurrumul’s, but his energy on ‘Gumik’ and the title-track (Guwak is a black night bird) is impressive. A band for both now and the future.