Golden Retriever Records is proud to announce the November 1st release of Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne – the second album from composer and performer Dudley Benson.

The much-anticipated follow-up to his 2008 debut The Awakening, Forest is a full-length album of Benson’s interpretations of bird waiata by renowned composer Hirini Melbourne (1949-2003). Recorded almost entirely with only the human voice, Forest is a musical journey that tells the stories of our native birds, guiding the listener into an enchanted world of nocturnal hunters, messengers to the gods, and magnificent singers. It is a collection of vividly textured pop pieces that exist somewhere between the traditions of folksong and barbershop, choral anthem and hip hop.

Produced over two years, the project began when Benson arranged and performed a song from Melbourne’s Forest & Ocean album on his 2008 national church tour. Soon after, he spent a month exploring the deep south, where he visited the bird sanctuary of Ulva Island, off Stewart Island:

“It was the end of summer, and very beautiful. A tui or bellbird would follow you through this ancient forest, singing the most complex patterns… But I was also profoundly concerned,” explains Benson. “There was a stark silence permeating everything. Where once there would’ve been an endless chorus, there was a distinct lack of birdsong, and by the end of the day I knew instinctively that it was my duty to sing Hirini’s birdsongs and share them in a new context. I contacted his wh?nau, explained what I wanted to achieve, and that’s how it began. Recording Forest as an all-vocal project was the obvious thing to do – it’s a celebration of the voice and the singers of the forest.”

Recorded and mixed by Adrian Hollay (The Awakening) and mastered by Mandy Parnell (Dirty Projectors, Sigur Rós), a bold contingent of artists was assembled to create Forest’s unique sound. Specially formed close-harmony vocal quartet The Dawn Chorus provides the album’s foundation, while reigning Aotearoa beatbox champion King Homeboy executes an inimitable rhythm section. Several other guests appear on the album. In T??, Benson has recorded his first duet – an ode to birdsong – with the legendary matriarch of contemporary folk, English singer Vashti Bunyan. Taonga p?oro authority Dr Richard Nunns offers his expertise to pulsing lead single Ruru; while Franz Josef Glacier bird mimic Gerry Findlay lends his calls to the prayer-like opener P?p? Manu E and ten-minute epic Kiwi. Continuing to explore his choral routes, a four-part choir features on several arrangements. And in his own unmistakable voice, binding it all together in both te reo M?ori and English, is Dudley.

Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne will be available on CD exclusively through www.dudleybenson.com from November 1st, and is available to pre-order there now.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

In November & December Benson presents a ten-date tour – his first in over two years – joined by his new vocal ensemble The Dawn Chorus, Australian-based beatboxer Hopey One and special guest performer, dance artist Cat Ruka.

Stylistically, the performances unite Benson with an intimate ensemble of close-harmony vocalists: two tenors, two basses, and a beat-boxer. Loosely drawing on the traditions of wartime New Zealand’s Kiwi Concert Party, the barbershop quartet, and M?ori showbands of the 1950s and 60s, the show is designed to delight and entertain. Wardrobe, lighting and a scenic backdrop painted by renowned artist Nigel Brown will complete the experience.

The ensemble is made up of young Auckland-based performers who are all current or former members of the National Youth Choir. The addition of a beat-boxer introduces an entirely new rhythm section to the set. Benson and his ensemble will perform their interpretations of Melbourne’s waiata, as well as original material and audience favourites from The Awakening.

Each show will open with a performance by solo female dancer and choreographer Cat Ruka, winner of Tempo’s 2009 ‘Best Production – Short Work’. Ruka will perform an original work based on the themes of the tour. Each evening will conclude with an invitation from Dudley to the audience to share a light supper.

Benson and his production team have a reputation for attention to detail, delivering shows that surprise and excite. Dudley Benson Live with The Dawn Chorus continues this tradition by touring urban marae and community halls nationwide. This will give the audience a unique and enriching experience while respecting the origin of the material.

Dudley Benson Live with the Dawn Chorus 2010

Nov 12 – Auckland – Te M?hurehure Marae, Pt Chevalier

Nov 14 – Kerikeri – Kingston House

Nov 19 – Nelson – Trafalgar St Hall

Nov 20 – Wellington – Pipitea Marae

Nov 24 – Dunedin – M?ori Hill Coronation Hall

Nov 25 – Queenstown – St Peter’s Church Hall

Nov 27 – Christchurch – Deaf Society Hall

Nov 28 – Akaroa – Gaiety Hall

Dec 4 – Waiheke Island – Palm Beach Hall

Dec 5 – Waitakere City – Hoani Waititi Marae

KINGSTON HOUSE, KERIKERI

Dudley Benson Live with The Dawn Chorus is strongly inspired by New Zealand’s native birds and landscape so Benson felt it was essential to take the tour to Northland, where he is excited to be performing for the first time.

Sunday 14 November, 8pm

Kingston House

123 Hone Heke Road, Kerikeri

$25.00 Adult, $20.00 Senior/Beneficiary/Student

Tickets available on the door or through dudleybenson.com. Booking highly recommended as venue may sell out. Doors open 30 minutes before show commences.

"The most memorable performance (in any genre) that I have seen all year. I don't expect it will be bettered either." - NZ Herald, 2008

DUDLEY BENSON - BACKGROUND

Dudley Benson was born in Christchurch in 1983. Raised on the Port Hills, at eleven years of age he earned a place as head soloist in the Christchurch Cathedral choir. He went on to study composition at the University of Canterbury before reestablishing himself in Auckland in 2005.

In 2006 Benson released his debut and sophomore EPs – both of which sold out within their first month of release – with live support slots for USA’s Casiotone For the Painfully Alone and Animal Collective following. In a 2007 performance at Auckland’s St Matthew-in-the-City with choir & string quartet, Benson introduced his audience to the sound of his 2008 debut album – Southern song-cycle The Awakening.

After touring the album in early 2008 through five of the country’s most beautiful churches & cathedrals, Benson spent the remainder of the year in Europe, where by invitation from German pop artist Barbara Morgenstern he presented a work written for Berlin’s Wassermusik Festival.

In 2009 he began arranging Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne, while studying te reo M?ori at the University of Auckland. Also in 2009 and on the final day of its exhibition, Benson performed the Auckland Art Gallery commissioned work A Performance In Openness (In Three Parts), a musical response to Te Papa’s Rita Angus: Life & Vision retrospective.

He ended the year by publishing The Awakening: Supplementary Workbook, a limited edition collection of the research, artwork and inspirations behind The Awakening album project.

HIRINI MELBOURNE and FOREST & OCEAN

Dr Hirini Melbourne (1949-2003) of Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Kahungunu, is the respected composer of countless waiata that express the natural environment of Aotearoa in song. He was a lead figure in the 1970s and 80s revival of te reo Maori and Maori culture through his academia and music – much of which was written for New Zealand children, and continues to be sung in classrooms. He recorded numerous collections of these waiata, one of which is Forest & Ocean (Viking Sevenseas, VPS 496CD) – a two-sided album of 22 waiata, the first half of which are songs of forest birds, the second half sea birds. Released posthumously in 2006, Forest & Ocean is in fact an assemblage of waiata recorded in 1979 & 1980, then released as two separate albums on LP and cassette, Children of T?ne and Friends of Maui.

With his close collaborator Richard Nunns, in the 1990s and early 2000s Melbourne shifted his focus to re-awakening the lost tradition of taonga p?oro (traditional M?ori instrumentation), recording their work in the form of seamless albums that include the celebrated classic Te K? Te Wh?. Melbourne was made an Officer of the Order of Merit in the 2003 New Year Honours. His legacy is treasured and profound, and goes on to influence New Zealanders regardless of generation and background.