Rrakala – Gurrumul’s second solo album – retains the quality, purity and sound of his debut while delving into a wider palette of genres and instrumentation. Showcased for the first time are Gurrumul’s exceptional skills on piano, drums, nylon string, electric and acoustic guitars. Rrakala has achieved platinum sales in Australia and was the winner of the Best World Album category at the 2011 ARIA awards.
DECCA RECORDS
2-LP (Legacy Edition Gold Vinyl)
Decca Records
Cat. No. 3526453
26 March 2021
CD (Jewel Case)
Decca Records
Cat. No. 3526452
6 November 2020
Digital Album (Standard)
Decca Records
Cat. No. 3526451
6 November 2020
Digital Album (Mastered for iTunes)
Decca Records
Cat. No. 3532148
6 November 2020
Executive producer: Mark T Grose
Producer: Michael Hohnen
Recording Engineer: Anthony Ruotolo (Avatar, NYC)
Mix Engineer: Matthew Cunliffe (Subsonic, Darwin & Los Angeles)
Mastered by Bernie Grundman (Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles)
Overdub recording engineers:
Craig Pilkington (Audrey Studios, Melbourne)
David Badrick (Audrey Studios, Melbourne)
Dennis Gilbert (Subsonic, Darwin)
Duane Preston (Skinnyfish Music, Darwin)
Assistant engineers:
Aki Nishimura (Avatar, NYC)
Jeremy Conlon (Avatar, NYC)
Julian Kelly (301, Byron Bay)
Dennis Gilbert (Subsonic, Darwin)
Editing engineer: Dennis Gilbert (Subsonic, Darwin)
All instruments played by Gurrumul except
Double bass: Michael Hohnen
Extra guitars: Craig Pilkington
Extra vocals on Djotarra: Johnathon Yunupingu
Central to all 12 tracks is Gurrumul’s astonishing voice. It’s an instrument of rare power and beauty; seductive, sometimes sweet, but with a rasp to it in places. All of the lyrics are of a spiritual nature, focused entirely on the culture of his homeland, Elcho Island in northeast Arnhem Land, whether it be in the spirits of ancestors (Baru) or in the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the land (Mala Rrakpala, Gopuru)”. The Australian, 2011.
If you listen very carefully to Gurrumul, you can lose yourself in the timelessness and ancient beauty that effortlessly swirls and drifts around every note he plays and sings. The Australian, 2011.