As an exceptional musician and songwriter, Dan Sultan was never one to fade into the background. He became a household name in 2007 when he performed his self-penned track ‘Roslyn’, named for his mother, a member of the stolen generation, at the National Sorry Day concert. He has won numerous ARIA, Deadly and AIR Awards for his previous LPs, and in 2014 Sultan was named the joint winner of Artist of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards. However, it’s the honesty, grit and immaculately-crafted melodies found within his fourth studio album, Killer, that will see Sultan back in the spotlight and once again receiving the acclaim he deserves.
From the first bars of the opening track ‘Drover’, you find yourself marching to the beat of Sultan’s drum as he recreates the atmosphere surrounding the lead-up to the momentous Wave Hill ‘walk off’ through the eyes of an indigenous pastoral worker.
From there, Sultan dives head first into the album’s lead single ‘Hold It Together’ with soul-drenched lyrics of courage through adversity and a truly uplifting gospel-inspired chorus, while the politically-minded ‘Kingdom’ makes no bones about our country’s dark past, and showcases the song writer’s diversity and musical maturity.
‘Over In Time’ takes a bluesy turn, reminiscent of his sound on 2014’s Blackbird, as does the sombre, yet compelling, lament of ‘Fire Under Foot’.
To close the album, Sultan chose the candid chorus of ‘Easier Man’, exposing vulnerability and the inevitable regret that comes after a relationship breakdown.
Recorded with long-time collaborator Jan Skubiszewski at the helm, the production and instrumentation (including drum machines and synthesisers) throughout Killer is flawless and reveals a level of mutual respect between both artists which allows Sultan’s poignant lyrics to be heard the way he intended.
In this ever changing modern landscape we live in – where crass, cliché and cutesy often win out over soul, sincerity and substance – Killer will no doubt push Sultan front and centre; where he belongs.
Killer is available now through Liberation Music.
