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BARBED WIRE BALLADS
- Songs of Australia' by Graham Seal
Unvarnished Productions,
PO Box 284, Mt. Hawthorn WA 6016.
($12.00 + p&p).
TRACK LIST | LYRICS | REVIEW
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REVIEWER: David MulhallenThere is a sort of sadness that sits amongst us in the Australian folk tradition. Sometimes, I think it is the reason that I enjoy folk so much. Because, it is true of many traditions, especially the Anglo-Celtic. Perhaps we are naturally depressive and enjoy dwelling on the hard times rather than the more joyful occasions in our lives.
It seems to me, that we are at our best when we sing a lament and reminisce on what might have been. Just think of the many fine ballads and tunes based around such subjects as lost love, tragedy and tales of war. In the Australian tradition alone we have plenty of fine examples, in the transportation and convict ballads, the hard times of the early settlers, the lament for our bushranger heroes, even the depression gives us a couple of classic songs of despair.
So it is probably just as well that we are good at singing these sad songs, otherwise there would be none of us around to tell the tales and pass on our heritage. We would have all hanged ourselves from the proverbial old oak tree.
Well, we certainly have some tales to tell and a heritage worth passing on and despite the lamentations, there are times when the stories we tell are sung in a light-hearted style as if, regardless, we are determined to be happy. And we are just as good at creating great melodies to compliment our epic tales, no doubt to stir our souls and celebrate our heritage.
It is no wonder then, that Graham Seal titles his album “Barbed Wire Ballads - Songs of Australia”. For this is a fine selection of songs created by Graham, which tell the story of Australia past and present. The songs are unashamedly his comment on Australia and as he says, in terms of lyrics, tunes, adaptations and arrangements, they are all his own work.
And what work indeed. Each song is beautifully crafted with great sensitivity though performed in a rather stark solo acoustic setting, just Graham with his guitar and dulcimer. The stories and his comments are stark too. They embrace pretty much the whole range of topics and issues about Australia; commenting on the massacres of indigenous Australians, the sorrows of war and depression, the struggle of the settlers, the story of the women of the Eureka Stockade and even the banana republic some say we live in. Yet, though there are more laments than celebrations in these songs, there is a spirit, that we can all recognise as being so very Australian, that constantly shines through. It is this that makes this album so enjoyable to listen to.
In fact, this album hasn't been off my CD player since Graham sent it to me. I have to say that for me, this is a most impressive offering from anyone in the folk scene, other than Enda Kenny's latest 'Cloud Lining', which I am still playing over and over. The two are fine examples of what Australian folksong is all about, though they are quite different in their productions and style.
Certainly for anyone who enjoys real folksong, as opposed to the current mishmash that seems to tend more towards everybody else's style of music other than folk, Graham's“Barbed Wire Ballads - Songs of Australia” is a must for your collection. It is quite definitely an album I commend to you. There is such a breadth of songs and yet they all sit together as a cohesive whole and a genuine expression of our lives here in Australia.
I have always liked Graham's singing voice and it comes over very well on this recording. The arrangements are sensitive and stylish and the selection of songs even more so. There's an excellent balance and mix of songs and tempo. Just listen to 'The Country Knows the Rest' – 'Little Danny Downer' - and then – 'Eucalyptus Christmas'. Excellent segue! And if you want a fine ballad or two in the traditional style of Australian folksong you're sure to enjoy Graham's rendition of 'Humping The Drum', a song I remember Graham singing all those years ago and which was featured on the Steamshuttle album "Australian Tradition in Transition" released on Larrikin Records.. 'Doing It Tough' borrows heavily from the 'Broken Down Squatter' and brings to mind all those songs of tragedy I referred to earlier.
In contrast, if you enjoy the classic contemporary singer/songwriter style of folk, have a listen to the final song 'The Great South Land'. Great lyrics, very poignant and reminiscent of an era when words were essential for good songs!
I think I am right in saying that “Barbed Wire Ballads - Songs of Australia” is Graham's first ever solo recording, even though Graham has been on the folk scene for more than a few years now. He has been a stalwart of the Australian Folk Scene for a long time and is well respected as much for his role as a folklorist as he is as a folk performer. Regrettably, his recordings have been few and most a good twenty years ago, when he joined with a large group of Sydney performers, led by Warren Fahey, for the recording of the epic “On The Steps Of The Dole Office Door”. As well, and around the same time, Graham led an equally large and significant group of Australian folk singers for another major folk recording project, the album “Game As Ned Kelly”. Both were recorded in the 1980s and have long since perished due to the extinction of all things vinyl, although there is talk that “Game as Ned Kelly” may be re-issued on CD, especially as Graham has recently had a book published on the history of Ned Kelly.
For much of the past two decades, Graham has been working at Curtin University in WA, lecturing in Australian Cultural Studies. He has also been very active on a number of Australian folklore projects, not least, of which has been his involvement with the Australian Folkore Unit. In fact, after much hard work, Graham has succeeded in persuading Curtin University to establish a folklore course as part of Australian Cultural Studies.
However, as important news as that is, it is as a singer that I draw your attention to Graham Seal again and his excellent album “Barbed Wire Ballads - Songs of Australia”. The album was recorded last year in Perth and released on Unvarnished Productions, PO Box 284, Mt. Hawthorn WA 6016. It is available to you for only $15.00, incl p&p. in Australia. A bargain!
- David Mulhallen
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