Once in a while an album comes along that breaks new ground. Hypnopædia is one of those albums. Composer Nicolette Boaz has co-written 10 tracks with 10 different Australian/ ethnic groups –with an outcome that is both surprising and sumptuous. All this in a great format of rock solid electro beats, often spontaneous performances and some of the best voices on the continent.
The tracks are all accessible having been composed for commercial saccessibility. Boaz has spent 20 years as a composer for documentaries, theatre and film always with a passion for traditional musics from other places as well as from Aboriginal Australia. Having taught world music at tertiary level and having a degree in Contemporary Music and Aboriginal Studies she comes to the table with a solid understanding of the musical heritage brought to these shores by the many nations who have become part of the fabric of Australia. The brief for the performers was to write about home and what that means to them. For each person, home will have different connotations: from the Lebanese artists who may not always be made welcome in Australia to the Sth African singer who has sung for the famed Miriam Makeba.: from the Tibetan refugees who may never be able to return home, to the Russian diva who sings ‘ I’m always near you –You’re always near me- and this in electronic dance form coupled with naturally catchy melodies and the use of instruments like balalaika (traditional Russian lute) zils (middle eastern thumb cymbals) and kendang (Indonesian drums). All the best grooves enhanced with the beauty of old world musics and some rhymes always with the depth that is a discussion about home.
Check out the Indian inspired clip ‘Love is a Falling Star’ filmed around Bondi and can be viewed on Youtube. In this we see Nicolette’s vision of Australian music with cruisy beats and gorgeous Indian and English vocals.
The album Hypnopædia comes with astounding electric artwork, and a booklet which features each of the artists. The production on the album is superb, with mixing by Nick Mainsbridge and mastering by Leon Zervos of Studios 301. This is a one off album with some of the best dance grooves in the world music scene in Australia today.
visit the official Hypnopaedia website: