We are thrilled to present a series of reinterpretations by Kemper Norton of ‘Mahina’ by The Doomed Bird of Providence, bringing together two incredible and unique artists in a stunning new release, which also marks the start of an exciting year at F&F Towers…
Mahina is based on one Australia’s worst ever natural disasters. The category 5 Cyclone Mahina took place in 1899 killing over 400 people. The original track (by Doomed Bird) attempts to evoke the disaster and it’s aftermath where amongst other things dolphins were found strewn on 50 foot cliffs on Flinders Island.
‘To Mahina’ begins with the ships that formed part of the Cornish diaspora to Australia in the nineteenth century, and imagines an encounter between a Cornish emigre miner and a Japanese pearl fisherman who has made a similar journey. Because of dangers such as shark attacks, risk of drowning , equipment failure and the bends, many Japanese pearlers died before working off their passage. The Thursday Island pearling fleet, which relied heavily on immigrant labour , was the major victim of Mahina. Most victims were never named.
Mahina features on The Doomed Bird of Providence’s Blind Mouths Eat, released in November 2013. Continuing an exploration into the darkest regions of Australian colonial history the album takes the style and content of their first long player (Will Ever Pray) into a more violent, death ridden landscape supported by a more eclectic and experimental approach to song writing, and featuring an extended line-up including Katie English aka Isnaj Dui.
To Mahina will be available to download from Monday 21st April.
Kemper Norton’s album Carn is out now on Exotic Pylon.
He returns later this year with an album for Front & Follow and a bonus album of remixes and rarities (including this EP, and many other tracks, on CD for the first time).