The Gospel Album

The Gospel Album is the third studio album from Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. It is performed in a mixture of both Yolngu and English. The album was announced in May and is described as 'a uniquely Indigenous approach to gospel songs with an expanded sound that combines new hymns, and reimagined gospel songs' [2] The album was released on 31 July 2015 and reached number three on the ARIA charts in August 2015.[3]

For 2007 album, see The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band.
The Gospel Album
Studio album by
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Released 31 July 2015 [1]
GenreFolk, world, Aboriginal, Inspirational
LabelSkinnyfish Music
ProducerMichael Hohnen
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu chronology
His Life and Music
(2013)		 The Gospel Album
(2015)		 Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
(2018)

The album is a dedication to Gurrumul's mother and aunts, who brought him up with songs and lullabies from the church at Elcho Island. As a small boy Gurrumul was not only influenced by the traditional music of his clan but by the gospel music he heard at the local Methodist church. It is a re-imagining of the spiritual songs that came to north-east Arnhem Land via Christian missionaries.[4]

The album cover who captured by Sydney photographer Nic Walker. A music video for "Jesu" was released on 3 July 2015.[5] A music video for "Amazing Grace" (featuring Paul Kelly) was released on 8 September 2015.[6]

The Gospel Album was the last album Gurrumul released before he died on 25 July 2017, with Djarimirri being posthumously distributed.[7]

Reviews

Michael Dwyer of Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of 5, describing the album as a "slow, gentle, atmospheric hymnbook". He added "there are some subtle sonic developments whispering beneath the singer's trademark hypnotic lull.. but overall, the key word is familiar." [8]

Daniel Prior of The Brag gave the album 4 out of 5, saying; "Music has the power to transcend all physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries, and 'The Gospel Album' preaches this on every song." [9]

Mikey Cahill of news.com.au gave the album 3.5 out of 5 saying the album is 'soothing". He complemented the tracks Jesu, Garray Jesu and Hallelujah.[10]

Paul Barr of Readings gave the album a positive review, saying; "This music radiates peace and calm, and Gurrumul’s native Yolngu language allows the full emotion to come through." He praised tracks Jesu, Baptism and "the beautiful version" of Amazing Grace.[11]

Darren Hassan of Glam Adelaide said the album looks set to be a hit with "a mixture of recognizable church songs mostly sung in the Yolngu language " [12]

Track listing
CD and Digital Download
  1. Jesu - 4:22
  2. Trinity - 4:31
  3. Nhaku Limurr - 4:31
  4. The Sweetest Name - 3:51
  5. All God’s Children (Yo Djamarrkuli) - 4:24
  6. Baptism - 4:36
  7. Garray Jesu (My Lord) - 4:26
  8. Hallelujah - 4:22
  9. Walu (Time) - 3:58
  10. Saviour - 2:27
  11. Amazing Grace - 3:16
  12. Riyala (There Is A River) - 4:24

Chart performance

"The Gospel Album" debuted at number 3 in Australia. This is his third studio album and third to peak at number 3.

Weekly chart performance
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[3] 3

Awards

"The Gospel Album" won the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2015. This is the third time Gurrumul has won this award.[13]

Tour

The Gospel Songs Australia Tour 2015.[14]

Date Location Venue
29 July 2015 Sydney Enmore Theatre
2 August 2015 Brisbane QPAC Concert Hall
5 August 2015 Adelaide Adelaide Festival Centre
8 August 2015 Melbourne Supersense Festival
10 August 2015 Canberra Canberra Theatre
2 August 2015 Perth Perth Concert Hall

References
  1. "iTunes - Music - The Gospel Album by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu". Itunes.apple.com. 2015-07-31. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  2. "New Gurrumul release The Gospel Album announced". www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. Steffen Hung. "Gurrumul - The Gospel Album". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  4. "New Gurrumul album national tour announced". www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  5. "Gurrumul - 'Jesu' (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  6. "Gurrumul and Paul Kelly - Amazing Grace (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  7. Aikman, Amos. "Singer Dr G. Yunupingu dies aged 46". The Australian. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  8. Michael Dwyer (30 July 2015). "Gurrumul: The Gospel Album". www.rollingstoneaus.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  9. Daniel Prior (31 July 2015). "Gurrumul Gospel Album". www.thebrag.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  10. staff writer (31 July 2015). "Latest Album Reviews: Josh Pyke, Gurrumul, Lianne La Havas, Albert Hammond Jr & Ducktails". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  11. Paul Barr (28 July 2015). "The Gospel Album by Gurrumul". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  12. Darren Hassan (6 August 2015). "Review: Gurrumul reaches heaven on the Gospel songs tour". www.glamadelaide.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  13. "Courtney Barnett, Hermitude, Tame Impala Lead 2015 ARIA Award Nominations". Nastassia Baroni. musicfeeds.com.au. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  14. "Artist information: Gurrumul". www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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