John Albert debut solo

Through a Mirror
John Albert
Sunset Music through Larrikin
Reviewed by Ignatius Kim

It's not exactly easy listening, but this debut solo album from Aboriginal singer/songwriter John Albert (used to front for Scrapmetal) is full of comforting melodies and much sentimentality.

It's all there: tinkling acoustic guitar solos, warm keyboards; themes of homesickness, love going wrong, memories of good times, departures and new beginnings.

Albert comes from the pearling town of Broome, in north-western WA. Pearl divers who settled there from China, Japan and South-East Asia earlier in this century have added their influences to the indigenous and European cultures in this unique town.

While Albert acknowledges the impact of this background, it doesn't come across significantly on Through a Mirror. It is plain, nice listening -- almost AM radioish. I have to admit, though, I can be vulnerable to this sort of thing.

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
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