The first new studio album in nearly four years from the massively successful, blind Australian aboriginal singer-songwriter Gurrumul shows that he is still in exquisite, distinctive voice, but playing safe. The new set is a “re-imagining” of the church songs he learned from his mother and aunts while growing up in the remote territory of Arnhem Land, and once again he sings in the Gumatj dialect. He starts with Jesu, a cool, drifting hymn of praise that shows off his high, relaxing but emotional and soulful voice, and demonstrates why he received such lavish praise from Quincy Jones during his recent US tour. He continues in the same style, with slow- to medium-paced hymns and anthems that are individually superb but eventually begin to sound repetitive, despite the attempts by the respectful backing band to provide variety. Still, the finale of Amazing Grace is achingly emotional.
