In the Back Streets of Paradise
Alistair Hulett & The Hooligans
Red Rattler
Reviewed by Chris Martin
Alistair Hulett, singer, songwriter, activist and entertainer, has given the Sydney left a lot of great times over the years. His presence at so many significant events — demos, fundraisers for all and sundry, pub brawls and parties — has made him an institution.
So much so that we tend to look at his work with a bit of proprietary parochialism. It's easy to overlook just how widely his music is appreciated.
Apart from his popularity around Australia, his songs are now known around the world. His last recording, Dance of the Underclass, was released in Germany, and his songs have been recorded by artists in Canada and England.
His new CD with a new line-up has plenty to offer as well.
The songs are a mix of unrecorded but well-known numbers and some new material. The line-up also features familiar names like the "High Notes" Jim Gregory together with a whole lot of new people and instruments.
The Hooligans of this recording are Jim on guitar and bouzouki, John Deery on Uillean pipes, Janek Bagolen on fiddle and harmonica, Phil Murray on accordion, Brian O'Kelly on bodhran and Anthony Ryan on bass. James Fagan of the Fagans is also supposed to be joining the line-up for upcoming performances.
The songs featured include some of Alistair's best originals and covers he has made his own, like the great "John McLean's March" and "Victor Jara of Chile".
For me, though, the best of the material here is the songs that have become favourites, the songs that never fail to do what great political music should — campaign: "... Foreign aid, Australian made,/ Death squads trained at Duntroon/ dropping hand grenades,/ Good Morning Bougainville ..."
A great new recording with a great new line-up from our favourite hooligan.