Hitchhiker's Nightmare (434k bytes), Virtuoso Didj (179k bytes)
Artist:
Dargin, Alan
Title:
Bloodwood - the art of the didjeridu
Genre:
Non-traditional Didjeridu
Musicians:
| Musician | Instruments |
|---|---|
| Alan Dargin | didjeridu, vocals |
| Michael Atherton | didjeridu, dobro guitar, drums, synthesizer, natural sounds, bass guitar, whistle, tubular bells |
| Mark Eliott | saxophone |
| Jess Ciampa | bass |
| Rigel Best | double bass |
| Peter Read | drums |
Format:
CD and cassette, Playing time 46:05 minutes
Track List:
Publisher No.:
(1993) Natural Symphonies - NS 331
Comments:
Digitally recorded and mixed. Distributed in the U.S. by Small World Music, Inc. Alan Dargin was born and raised in an Aboriginal tribe in Australia's northeast Arnhem land. He began studying the didgeridoo at age five. Dargin's grandfather taught him how to play, passing on secret techniques which have been passed down for generations over the instrument's 40,000 year history. Dargin has toured extensively in Australia and the US and has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Most recently, he toured Korea on behalf of the Australian Foreign Affairs Department. He has appeared in a number of Australian films and has also found the time to earn a science degree from the University of Toronto.
Reviewer: Liner Notes
Alan Dargin is clearly a virtuoso didj player, as amply demonstrated by his impressive performance on the first track, "Virtuoso Didj." I can't however say that I am that impressed with the content of the disc otherwise. I felt that the recording had little soul, and was more a collection of tracks to wow and amaze the audience with technical prowess (listen for the overtone playing) than to make art. I also feel that tracks like the "Hitchhiker's Nightmare," do little to correct the general public perception of the didj being little more that an amusing tribal instrument which is inferior to traditional western instruments. This album smacks to me like a very commercial project by a very talented player. Pity.
Reviewer: Sean Borman
Alan teams with Michael Atherton on this recording which features the didjeridu playing of Alan in a variety of styles, with recordings of street busking, playing of very low pitched PVC, and tracks with rock flavors. While the playing is very good, the album appears to be a showcase of both Alan and the didjeridu. The liner notes tend to brag, which makes me less receptive to the music.
Reviewer: John Morfit
Arguably the world's best Aboriginal didjeridu player, this is Alan's first release. This is a journey from traditional origins to the realms of modern music traversing many popular styles, and is part of Alan's campaign to gain greater recognition and acceptance of the didjeridu.
Reviewer: The Australian Cultural Experience