The Backsliders are the Aussie blues outfit featuring Midnight Oil founding member and drummer Rob Hirst, together with the multi-instrumental talents of singer-songwriter and Backsliders founder Dom Turner and his posse of equally-impressive musicians.
Heathen Songbook is the 14th album from the legendary touring band in three decades, and is a melange of 21st century original blues numbers together with versions of songs by a diverse selections of artists including blues legend Robert Johnson, hillbilly banjoist Dock Boggs and swamp-rock icon John Fogerty.
We’ve chatted with Dom Turner about his thoughts on each of the tracks, which The Backsliders will be playing live throughout their album release tour, dates below. Heathen Songbook is out now through Rocket Distribution, and is available on iTunes.
First World Eyes
Have you ever noticed that the media in Australia and other first world countries will focus full attention on any tragedy that involves anyone from the west? This song poses the question – how many people in the east need to die before it becomes front-page news.
Look Out Window
The stresses of modern life – work life balance – can all take their toll. Thankfully we all have our internalised thoughts to help us ‘Look Out the Window’
You Are Not Alone
The sad passing of a friend let to the lyrics in this one, as a reminder to look around and see the support all around you.
Run Through The Jungle
This is our version of a powerful song from the 1970 written by John Fogerty and recorded originally by Credence Clearwater Revival. While it has references to what appear to be the Vietnam War, the track is apparently a call for gun control in the USA, an issue that is even more relevant today.
Dickhead
Strange title! This one is a reaction to the overdevelopment of Sydney and cities in general with what I call ‘disposable architecture’ creating tomorrow’s slums – hi-rise buildings put up cheaply. The specific catalyst for the song is the development around the Eveleigh Rail yards in Newtown in Sydney – cheap buildings overshadowing the wonderfully restored industrial architecture.
Gundaman Saturday Night
A song created in the studio, with lyrical content from producer, Jim Moginie, Rob Hirst and me. It started with the chorus, “Row up the River” and then through a bit of brainstorming we came up with a swampy fictitious tale set in a riverside pub. The music has an eastern flavour centred around Rob Hirst’s wonderful groove with interwoven ‘dub’ style bass and a Vietnamese stringed instrument providing the riffs.
Me And The Devil
This is a version of one of the darkest songs by blues legend Robert Johnson – drawing on satanic imagery of walking side by side with the devil: “I said ‘Hello Satan – I believe its time to go’”. A hauntingly beautiful song and one we’ve wanted to do for many years. It seems like on almost all of our 14 albums we include at least one of Robert’s masterpieces.
Gonna Get Hurt
As countries develop one of the first big changes is the influx of fast food and the resultant change in diet. This is our take on what can happen.
Jumper On The Line
Mississippi Hill Country blues master R.L. Burnside has been a big influence on Backsliders for many years. In the early 1990’s we supported RL at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney – a legendary show that showed the power of one musician with an electric guitar and an incredible sense of rhythm. ‘Jumper on the Line’ is one of RL’s most well known songs so we decided to try a version of it in the studio. It ended up on the album.
Sugar Babe
There is a close link between blues and Appalachian mountain music and Dock Bogg’s ‘Sugar Babe’ is a great example. This one I played on my Vietnamese ‘Dan Thu’ (4 string instrument) and features Broderick Smith’s soulful harmonica.
Politician
Backsliders evil twin ‘The Angry Tradesmen’ (a side project of Rob Hirst and mine) included Jack Bruce’s ‘Politician’ in the live set and it’s always been a possibility for Backsliders with its strong riff and blues structure. This one just seemed perfect in among the other tracks with the eclectic nature of the album.
Working Overtime
I wrote this one a week before going into the studio and it pretty well came together in one sitting. It’s basically an observation of the lives of long term expatriates. It’s a very delicate folk-like song with emotionally charged accordion by guest musician Johnny Gauci.
You Three
‘You Three’ has been a constant in Backsliders live sets since we first recorded it in 1996. Over the 20 years of performing the song it has morphed into a different beast and so we decided to record the 2016 version of it.
Backsliders – ‘Heathen Songbook’ Album Release Tour 2016
Sept 10: Darwin Railway Club, NT Saturday
Sept 17: Caravan Music Club, Melbourne, VIC Sunday
Sept 18: Way Out West Roots Music Club, Williamstown, VIC Saturday
Sept 24: ‘Blues in the Bush’ Festival, WA Sunday
Oct 2: Narooma Golf Club, NSW Saturday
Oct 15: Wingham Akoostik Music Festival, NSW Saturday
Dec 3: Wollongong Town Hall, NSW Saturday
Jan 14: Milton Theatre, NSW
