Frank Yamma – Uncle

Does Frank Yamma live his songs or does he write about his life? In the end it doesn’t matter; you won’t hear a more heartfelt collection of songs this year. He starts with the delicate A Black Man’s Crying. In this opening track he sings, “I am a man, just like you”. He is stating the obvious, but it’s still arresting. You get the feeling he means every word here, regardless of whether it’s in English or Pitjantjatjara. The guitar playing is excellent, sometimes fizzing with energy, or just plain jittery as seen in track Pitjuli Wankanye. But it’s the deceptively casual strum of Sunday Morning, one of the songs which comes replete with bird noises which might be the loveliest thing here.  * * * ½