Malira by Not Drowning, Waving
This record started to emerge as we were preparing for a show at the Sydney Festival and realised how little we’d actually played together in recent years. We needed to rehearse the songs on the Tabaran record although we were happy to find any excuse to play. As everyone was spread out around the region, ideas were passed around — played on, shared and shaped — between studios in Rabaul, Moresby, Cairns, Tylden, Naarm and down Gadubanud lands.
Eventually we had created a dozen or so tunes that felt worthy of the Tabaran legacy. Not Tabaran version two but something different. It reflects a three-decade relationship — more than half our lives — of music, friendship and understanding. It feels right that Malira’s release coincides with 50 years of PNG independence.
We hope it reflects the potential of what the relationship between our two countries can be.
Boina tuna
Tracklist
| 1. | Alar | 4:35 |
| 2. | Malira | 4:24 |
| 3. | Mangrove | 3:58 |
| 4. | Song from the Old Colony | 5:25 |
| 5. | Maris | 5:17 |
| 6. | The Dirty Chemist (Raskolore) | 3:48 |
| 7. | John Vuia 1950 | 3:42 |
| 8. | A Pir Pir | 4:17 |
| 9. | Smol Mad Lotu | 3:22 |
| 10. | Amarovot | 4:13 |
| 11. | Molachs and the Kopykats | 4:30 |
| 12. | Call Across the Chambri | 5:49 |
| 13. | Atutana | 5:09 |
Credits
For MALIRA, Not Drowning, Waving are:
Russel Bradley: drums, percussion
David Bridie: vocals, piano, pump organ, synthesizer, bilas
Ben Hakalitz: drums, garamut, kundus
Rowan McKinnon: bass, air raid siren
Helen Mountfort: cello
John Phillips: guitar, bilas
George Telek: vocals
Pius Wasi: mambu (bamboo flute)
Guests:
Natty Dolaiasi: vocals
Andrew Duffield: theremin
Alice Hurwood: vocals
Linda Laasi: vocals
Anna Smyrk: vocal
Kirsty Stegwazi: vocals
Lisa Wood: vocals
Recorded variously at The Donkey Shed (Maering a Lerpean), Andrew Duffield Music, Andrew McCubbin Field Day Recording Studios, RMIT Studios and Black Label Studio, Kokopo, ENB
Recorded and mixed by Thomas Fenner at the Donkey Shed
Final mixes by Simon Polinski
Mastered by Andy Robinson
Field recordings by John Phillips and David Bridie
Lyrics by George Telek and David Bridie
Motor Car Long Road outtake on Molachs and the KopyKats performed by the Posus Stringband recorded live on Ponam Island, Manus province
Additional Sounds – Kintore wind, excerpts from Mataungan film – thanks to Rod Bishop
Raskol Dusty vocal recording at Club Mu, Sina Sina, village kids from Moto Lava, Tora, Vanuatu
Mad Lotu choir and preacher recordings from Vunaulul, ENBP, PNG
John Vuia 1950 speech thanks to the late Gideon ToBeovaira Kakabin
Guitar modifications: Rob Wellington
Guitar consultation: Sean Kelly
Thank you to Thomas and Simon for going beyond the call of duty, Andrew McCubbin, Andrew Duffield, Gideon Kakabin, Bridget Mamua, Robin Bangin, Danielle Morgan, Emanuel Hakalitz, Will Tekatoha, Eneti Waretini, Carolyn Logan, Jane Hart and Wesley, Lauren, Eadie and Lewis, Mabel for keeping it real, Sadie, Christina Alvarez, Min Lucas, Winnie, Maraea Lilley, Stella, Artie, Paddy, Betty, Vera, Lisa Wood, Aster, Roland, Imogen, Liz Arkles, Hanna and Matt, Jack, Otis and Milo, Oli and Miles, Bridget, Leva, Piuta, Alice, Cilla, Joyce, Ronnie, Phil Mortlock, Mark Bishop, Tim, Bao Bao and Eleven, James Southall, Judith, Tyrone, Daniel, Tarhis, Maria, Adolf, Doracs, Ratu, Jezreel, Michael, Jackson, Alice and Wargi Apelis for the look
Photo of Wagi: Garatt Low
Art & Design: Russel Bradley - thehivedesign.com
License
All rights reserved.
NDW's music was haunting, evocative, brooding, sensuous and a million other words that excite people who type for a living. In record stores, you could usually find NDW filed under ambient or art-rock, ill-fitting labels if ever there were. Though they were often minimalist, they never made background music. Arty by comparison to other acts of the era, but they knocked out some glorious pop tunes.