Worlds Kaleid for Kamerunga

With the release of its second album, Kamerunga is maintaining its mission to redefine and reinvigorate Australian folk, blending original composition with heritage and elements of world music, jazz, classical, rock and reggae to create a vivid new fusion.

Worlds Kaleid continues an exhilarating journey that began with the northern Queensland band’s 2008 debut album.

The Push garnered rave reviews, an ARIA nomination (the Aussie equivalent of a Grammy) for Best World Music album and earned Kamerunga a place at some of Australia’s major festivals, including the Byron Bay Bluesfest, National Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and Fairbridge Festival, and an invitation to perform at the 2011 Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo, an event featuring bands from more than 20 countries:

Recorded at the Cairns studio of Kamerunga’s drummer and dual ARIA-winning producer Nigel Pegrum (former member of UK folk-rock pioneers and chart-toppers Steeleye Span), Worlds Kaleid features guest contributions from the Cat Empire’s trumpeter Harry James Angus, oud maestro Joseph Tawadros, slide guitar master Jeff Lang and The Bushwackers’ lagerphone player extraordinaire Dobe Newton, who are among the finest players of their respective instruments in Australia.

Kamerunga’s frontline comprises the crème de la crème of Cairns’ multi-instrumentalists in Peter Ella (acoustic & electric guitars, tenor guitar, mandolin, violin), Andree Baudet (saxophones, keyboards, cello) and lead singer David Martin (violin, mandolin), supported by a dynamic rhythm section — Torres Strait Islander Will Kepa (bass) and Nigel Pegrum (drums) — with national music writer and World Music Central contributor Tony Hillier on rhythm guitar and backing vocals.

The original compositions include Burke’s Lament, a poignant song based on a letter that the ill-fated explorer Robert O’Hara Burke wrote in 1860 on the day before he died, and The Cameleers, an instrumental tribute to the Afghan camel herders who helped open up the Australian outback in the 19th century.

The album also includes a paean to Seisia, a beautiful part of Australia’s tropical far north, situated on the tip of Cape York Peninsula on the cusp of the Torres Strait.

Another song, Fannie Bay recognizes another part of the Top End and an infamous 19th century Darwin gaol.

Queensland Whalers, Ryebuck!, Lazy Harry’s and Lime Juice Tub salute other aspects of Australian history.

Album launches are scheduled for Victoria’s Port Fairy Folk Festival (March 10 & 11) and National Folk Festival, Canberra (April 7, 8 & 9)