This 2012 collaboration between Australia’s finest established musicians, and a handful of unrecognised artists from refugee backgrounds manages to – like the first volume before it – provoke the position that stereotypes are unimportant.
The patriotic compilation contains 11 tracks that showcases the extraordinary talents of Aussie artists, including the likes of Paul Kelly, Lanie Lane, Chet Faker and Dick Diver, providing a diverse and interesting soundscape that compliments our country’s diverse musical interests.
The first track of the album ‘Silence of the Guns’ is a collaboration between Jinja Safari and Kinfe, the up beat track pokes fun at the current political concept of ‘no room for no more’ which to many (and hopefully most) is well worth making a joke of.
Paul Kelly’s appearance on the album with The Cambodian Space Project offers deep enchanting spoken lyrics on the track ‘The Boat,’ which ring true to the albums contention, namely to raise awareness through Amnesty International as to the plight of asylum seekers.
The track – like many on the album – switches between Australian and Cambodian languages which, although confusing, still manages to convey emotion strongly with passionate and diverse vocals by both singers.
Highlights of the album include Chet Faker and The Royal Swazi Spa’s collaboration on ‘Fear Like You’ which incorporates a jazz-influenced double bass that can only come across as jazz influenced. The freedom and free flowing vibe of the song meshes nicely between the tracks around it and brings to life new surprising sounds you wouldn’t have known the bands where capable of.
Given the album’s diversity it’s hard for a song to sit uncomfortably given you get something completely new every track, a good example being Kim Salmon and Waleed Aly’s collaboration ‘Client JGT683′ which rocks out like a Crazy Horse tribute band before clicking over into the last track on the album, ‘Apuse’.
A collaboration between David Bridie and West Papau’s Hein Arumisore, the track offers upbeat cultured groove with its impressive production and gathering of sound.
The interesting and experimental vibe of The Key Of Sea Volume 2 comes across smoothly in comparison to so many compilations before it, therefore giving it that push for further listening. Unlike most compilations where people are expected to jump through track to track finding their preferred sound, The Key Of Sea Volume 2 offers a combination of sounds worth listening to from beginning to end.
