Radical Son has one of those voices that stays with you. It stops you in your tracks, forcing you to listen in and pay attention. A proud Kamilaroi and Tongan man, he’s just released his sophomore album Bilambiyal (the learning). It’s a special collection of soulful songs that will resonate with you long after the last track fades.
Interestingly, this album opens with “Elder – Reprise.” We’re not starting at the beginning, but further down the journey, where Radical Son expresses his hope to become an Elder, to grow old with a partner. He has dreams, dreams that might have seemed impossible at the start of the story. That story is sadly an all too familiar one. Radical Son’s life hasn’t been easy. He’s spent time in jail. Songs like “How Long Must I Wait,” featuring the incomparable Emma Donovan, and “All My Life” don’t shy away from the hard times. You can hear the pain in his vocals, the yearning for a different path. They’re a heartbreaking part of the story but they’re also an essential part because working through them gave him the wisdom and perspective he has today.
After his incarceration, Radical Son sought healing and redemption through his culture. The album evolves as each song retells that journey, taking us from a place of sadness to one of healing and ultimately hope. “Until You Call My Name” touches on love, of taking steps forward. Its stirring string section feels almost cinematic. The contrast between this track and the next, the intimate spoken word interlude “Cultural Contract,” gives resonance to both. Radical Son expands on the ideas of the opening track with “Elder.” It’s an inspiring midway point. After coming through so much pain, gaining so much wisdom, we see Radical Son finding purpose, hoping to channel what he’s learned into teaching the next generation so they don’t have to walk the same path.
“Only One Life” is a joyous reggae number celebrating existence. It provides a brief moment’s respite before the somber title track. The introspective lyrics about loss, suffering, and rebirth are amongst the album’s best. The legacy of Yothu Yindi no doubt influenced “Yuluwirri Wandabaa (The Rainbow Dreaming).” Featuring Frank Yamma and the return of Emma Donovan, you feel this one deep in your bones. “Dhuwan Baraay Yuligi” is a much more intimate number, one where the vocals take centre stage. My intellectual side wished I understood the language, but the more primal part of me felt it. Something tells me, that’s the point. The layered vocal harmonies of “A Golden Age” have a gorgeous angelic quality that elevates, leading into the optimistic but vulnerable closer, “The Fall.” As Radical Son sings it’s going to be alright, you can’t help but believe him.
Bilambiyal (the learning) takes listeners on such an incredible journey, one that I’ve willingly taken countless times over the last few days. Radical Son is such a compelling artist, and in this album, he shares his wisdom and talent so freely. Wait until you’ve got a nice block of time to just listen to it, free from distractions, because this powerful album deserves your focus.
Bilambiyal (the learning) is out now. Radical Son will play an all-ages show at QPAC in Meeanjin/Brisbane tomorrow night, 31 July, to raise awareness of First Nations men’s mental health.
Main photo credit: Cameron Bloom