Phyl Lobl – Alcyone Bronzewing PO Box 90, South Hurstville, NSW 2221 email: bronzewing@hotkey.net.au TRACK LIST | REVIEW

TRACK LIST

1. ALCYONE (Lobl)
   Based on a Greek Myth of Halcyon (Alcyone) and Ceyx. Hopefully those who travel a similar path will find this a positive song.

2. WEST COAST LITANY (Lobl)
   The drive from Strahan to Queenstown on Tasmania's west coast was lit by a series of rainbows for me. Thanks to Karolin for the 'wet rock corner' reference. Mt Owen is one of the mountains bared by the mining operations in Queenstown. Residents find the sunset shining on the coloured rock formation offers a splendid show as compensation for the defoliation.

3. PRIDE OF THE LAND (Lobl)
   A 'thank-you' in song form, to honour Shirley Andrews who gave a life of service to Science, Aboriginal Welfare and more noticeably gave European-Australia back its dance heritage. She introduced dancing into the National Folk Festivals circa 1968 and continued discovering, un-covering and teaching dances until the week she died in 2001.

4. SHANNON RISE (Lobl)
   Written after the Tasmanian Project (Now &Then) in response to a woman's telling of the fact that policies of the 'Powers That Be' had destroyed not only the original Lake Pedder but also the home of a certain moth which bred near the Shannon River. The moths were prized by the trout and the phenomenon of watching the trout 'rise' for the moth was prized world-wide by trout enthusiasts. The Gorge is the Cateract Gorge near Launceston also thought to be endangered at one stage.

5. ISLAND HOME (Lobl)
   In Savage River the brick Neighbourhood House was a meeting place that offered many kinds of support. It was perhaps the only one not made from fibro containing asbestos. Companies like Pickands Mather and Cleveland Cliffs had a responsibility to ensure proper upkeep. The colour of the miners hats denoted their place in the pecking order.

6. THE FIGHT AT EUREKA STOCKADE (Henry Lawson/Royston Nicholas adapt. Lobl)
   I added a verse to the original adaptation by Royston Nicholas which I've heard only via other singers. Because Lalor & Carboni didn't get a suitable mention I added mine. I wanted to make a song more relevant for primary school kids studying the topic 'Gold In Australia'. There are some other changes to the original which is available in a number of publications.

7. MAN OF THE EARTH (Jock Graham/Phyl Lobl)
   Warren Fahey asked for a tune for this poem when we were recording the LP 'Man Of The Earth' It is on this album as part of the Theme Workshop 'Singin' The Poets Of Oz'..

8. BELL-BIRDS (Henry Kendall 1839-l882 /Tune Trad .'Spinning Wheel' adapted Lobl l999)
   Many years ago singing in the back yard in Beaumaris a nearby resident knocked on the door and suggested the following 'marriage' of words and tune. His name was Dick Bell. It took me a many more years before I really adapted the poem by using part of one verse as a chorus and omitting words from other verses. Bell-birds signal the sites of water to weary bush travellers at the hottest time of the day

9. RIBBON OF HIST0RY (Lobl)
   Written in 1996 after a trip on 'The Blackbird', a boat that takes tourists to the Museum Of the West on the Maribyrnong River, once one of Melbourne's most degraded rivers, which has now been rehabilitated to some degree. Tour guide Peter helped with the facts. Emu, Steele & Dry are names of creeks. Boonwurrrung & Woiworung are names of local tribes.

10. PADDOCK WOMAN'S SONG (Lobl)
    A Paddock Woman called Pixie showed an independence and a joy of life it was a privilege to share. Pontiac and Nennabec are types of potatoes grown on the east coast of Tasmania.

11. BEHIND THE BLOCKADE (Lobl)
    A time that split the nation, families and marriages. The Franklin River and its whisky coloured water, courtesy of the Button Grass, were saved by the Blockade but there were other casualties. The people from both sides told their stories.

12. FAIR LIFTER (Lobl)
    Two young women one from the East one from the West of Tassie had a similar experience of giving in to passion. Both showed admirable honesty and spirit. Both suffered the frustration of being unable to move from the pigeonhole the towns had put them in.

13. RIGHT TO LIFE (Lobl)
    If this needs an explanation we definitely need more of the same.

14. DERBY HALL (Lobl)
    Derby is an old tin mining town on Tasmania's East Coast. The walls of the hall are lined with panels of pressed tin that really spreads the sound around. The activities, told to me by the hall's caretaker, reflected those I had experienced in a small hall in the little town of Newham at the base of Hanging Rock (Vic).

15. LOVE LIE BY ME (Lobl)
    Written when my love was new. A time which by the laws of science should seem a lifetime away now and yet feels like yesterday.

16. SEAL UPON MY HEART (Lobl)
    Thoughts and feelings sprung from grieving were released after a series of 'co-incidences' or 'synchronicities' involving the quote below. 'Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death.' from 'The Song Of Solomon'. Other people's writings of such experiences that mirror mine have helped me so maybe this will help someone else.