Ruby

Sensational, emotional and a pure joy to listen to two legends of Australian music, indigenous wife and husband team Archie Roach and the late Ruby Hunter. Their music is from the heart about their life experiences and this shines through in all their music, a must buy for anyone who is into "real" people and "real" music.

This is one of the worst albums it has ever been my misfortune to listen to. This release pairs two wonderful Aboriginal musicians with unrelentingly tedious jazz musicians. When I say I hate jazz music, this is exactly the kind of music I have in mind. The two styles don't mesh in any way. I was bored to tears. The low point of the CD is the track that sounds like a dog's squeaky toy. Both Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter have produced music that is well worth hearing. None of it is on this disc.

Wonderful music

Great piece of music history

Anyone familiar with the extraordinary music of Archie Roach and his wife Ruby Hunter will be fascinated by this collaboration with the Australian Art Orchestra, who provide the instrumental backing as Ruby and Archie take turns interpreting some of their best known songs, and some not so well known. The backing gives these often simple country folk songs the status of art song, which is entirely appropriate given the emotional intensity of the lyrics. Ruby's songs and her voice particularly benefit from the settings provided by the Australia Art Orchesta, although Archie often sounds less secure and this would have been a better idea a few years ago when his gorgeous tenor voice had less of a beat in it. However, some of the songs like Wash My Soul in the River's Flow are wonderful. The whole collection really brings a slice of Australia's Aboriginal history to life - life in the mission days, life in old Fitzroy. Ruby's take on Down City Streets is a lot more edgy than Archie's joyful version from a few years ago, and I love her Held me up to the Moon (in my Grandfather's Hands) and its image of the newborn baby being kept warm in the ashes of a campfire. Well worth a listen

Excellent performance of Aboriginal songs full of meaning and performed by both singers with'soul'. Great variety of musical backings.Given the way the Aborigines have been treated (acknowledging more recent Government apologies) it is moving to hear this album.