A GOANNA has ganged up with a Dingo and
some Americans in Arizona to make an album
that will resonate strongly with Aussie baby
boomers. Recorded in the Tucson studio of
producer Kerryn Tolhurst, late of the Dingoes,
Goanna Dreaming is a deeply philosophical
work that pulls together the strands of Shane
Howard’s distinguished career, underlines his
status as one of the country’s finest singer-
songwriters and confirms his profound
commitment to Aboriginal Australia. Cosmology,
mortality, justice, love and belonging are
companions in the artist’s broad church. As its
title suggests, the album also reconciles the
west Victorian with his famous past. Indeed, the
opening track, Earth is Singing, harks back to a
trip Howard made to Uluru 30 years ago, which
led to the creation of Goanna’s greatest hit,
Solid Rock. Memories of the 80s folk-rockers are
also manifest in the style and sound of Back in
Time and Struggle & Strife. The epic folk balladry
of Clancy & Dooley & Don McLeod is closer
aligned to Howard’s recent solo albums. Steve
Cooney’s guitar brings impressive energy to the
historic Pilbara story of Australia’s Black Eureka.
Broome’s Pigram Brothers lend Kimberley Rain
equal edge. Kevin Schramm’s accordion
imbues the country rocker Mountains to the Sea
with Tex-Mex feel. Less ambivalent lyrically are
Miss Me Darlin and She Called Me Up, in
keeping with their classic country flavour.

Tony Hillier THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN  17-18 July 2010