02 October 2010 - 0 Comments

Golden Retriever Records is proud to announce the November 1^st release of Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne – the second album from composer and performer Dudley Benson.

The much-anticipated follow-up to his 2008 debut The Awakening, Forest is a full-length album of Benson’s interpretations of bird waiata by renowned composer Hirini Melbourne (1949-2003). Recorded almost entirely with only the human voice, Forest is a musical journey that tells the stories of our native birds, guiding the listener into an enchanted world of nocturnal hunters, messengers to the gods, and magnificent singers. It is a collection of vividly textured pop pieces that exist somewhere between the traditions of folksong and barbershop, choral anthem and hip hop.

Produced over two years, the project began when Benson arranged and performed a song from Melbourne’s Forest & Ocean album on his 2008 national church tour. Soon after, he spent a month exploring the deep south, where he visited the bird sanctuary of Ulva Island, off Stewart Island:

“It was the end of summer, and very beautiful. A tui or bellbird would follow you through this ancient forest, singing the most complex patterns…  But I was also profoundly concerned,” explains Benson. “There was a stark silence permeating everything. Where once there would’ve been an endless chorus, there was a distinct lack of birdsong, and by the end of the day I knew instinctively that it was my duty to sing Hirini’s birdsongs and share them in a new context. I contacted his whânau, explained what I wanted to achieve, and that’s how it began. Recording Forest as an all-vocal project was the obvious thing to do – it’s a celebration of the voice and the singers of the forest.”

Recorded and mixed by Adrian Hollay (The Awakening) and mastered by Mandy Parnell (Dirty Projectors, Sigur Rós), a bold contingent of artists was assembled to create Forest’s unique sound. Specially formed close-harmony vocal quartet The Dawn Chorus provides the album’s foundation, while reigning Aotearoa beatbox champion King Homeboy executes an inimitable rhythm section. Several other guests appear on the album. In Tûî, Benson has recorded his first duet – an ode to birdsong – with the legendary matriarch of contemporary folk, English singer Vashti Bunyan. Taonga pûoro authority Dr Richard Nunns offers his expertise to pulsing lead single Ruru; while Franz Josef Glacier bird mimic Gerry Findlay lends his calls to the prayer-like opener Pîpî Manu E and ten-minute epic Kiwi. Continuing to explore his choral routes, a four-part choir features on several arrangements. And in his own unmistakable voice, binding it all together in both te reo Mâori and English, is Dudley.

Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne will be available on CD exclusively through www.dudleybenson.com from November 1^st, and is available to pre-order there now.

“The nature of this project is such that I wanted to offer people an alternative to buying it in the shops,” says Benson. “I really enjoy the idea of purchasing music through online mail-order, and this is definitely an album that should arrive in the letterbox – by kererû. It’s a good time to experiment with this sort of thing, because aside from a few staunch independent stores, I think the current state of music retail is really underwhelming. Partly, I’m responding to that.”

NATIONWIDE TOUR

In November & December Benson presents a ten-date tour – his first in over two years – joined by his new vocal ensemble The Dawn Chorus, Australian-based beatboxer Hopey One and special guest performer, dance artist Cat Ruka.

Dudley Benson Live with the Dawn Chorus 2010

Nov 12 – Auckland – Te Mâhurehure Marae, Pt Chevalier
Nov 14 – Kerikeri – Kingston House
Nov 19 – Nelson – Trafalgar St Hall
Nov 20 – Wellington – Pipitea Marae
Nov 24 – Dunedin – Mâori Hill Coronation Hall
Nov 25 – Queenstown – St Peter’s Church Hall
Nov 27 – Christchurch – Deaf Society Hall
Nov 28 – Akaroa – Gaiety Hall
Dec 4 – Waiheke Island – Palm Beach Hall
Dec 5 – Waitakere City – Hoani Waititi Marae

Tickets are available from Monday 4^th October at www.dudleybenson.com

Thanks to www.dudleybenson.com for this story.

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