THE CRUICKSHANK REDEMPTION
After an intensive incubation the Cruel Sea cavalier, James Cruickshank makes a celebrated reappearance with his latest creation Hello Human.
It’s completion and delivery sees a definitive moment for James who has been putting the finishing touches on Hello Human while collaborating with artist Michael Leunig and musician Gyan on their fantasia tour de force Billy the Rabbit, the musical interpretation of their combined poetic art.
And not only does James assemble his own musical dreams complete with romantic picket fence, he has also used his multi-dextrous melodic skills, playing drums, guitar, keyboard, banjo, organ and providing vocals, with his past numerous associations.
He includes, with the many other creative flairs on his extensive resume, producing amongst other gems, Aussie legend Ian Rilen’s solo album, Love Is Murder in 2001, ‘one of the great Australian albums of the era bar none’ (Clinton Walker).
Hello Human is James’ second solo album and is the result of six days in a northern NSW shed, sweating in a sarong, banging out rhythms with a wooden spoon while the messages for his audience were shaped in a labour of love and near-lunacy.
James’ first conception, Hymn For Her, released in 2003, is an assortment of beautiful folk songs such as Did You Forget and Sea Shanty. It cemented his ability to construct amazingly distinctive songs and it is these endowments which are coming to the surface again to be admired with the release of Hello Human.
