Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Adrian Sutherland might not be a name you are familiar with, but it is one to now make acquaintance with, and to metaphorically look him in the eye and shake his hand warmly as he regales your soul with tales of song that encourage a way of looking at the world that has become almost alien to many us who live and devour the planet rather than being a part of it.
The roots rocker from Attawapiskat, found at the isolated far north of Ontario on the banks of the river that carries its name, the deeply personal record he places before a crowd maybe more attuned to the beat of provided by those of not First Nation pedigree and sublime attention to the land he travels, is a man of incredible spirit, noble in his belief that comes through of education through passion, and it is in Precious Diamonds he unearths that the respected leader gives his heart.
We crawl through the earth to dig for gem stones, not realising, not understanding, that the true worth of the world is on its outside of the skin and in our soul, not the fashion adornments we seek to place as a sign of wealth, but that in which we can sing with pride, with warning, with a glee; those precious diamonds are far superior, and we should once more declare an interest, as Adrian Sutherland does so well in this his second outing.
The traditional knowledge-keeper strikes a chord with his music that is undoubtedly alluring, the sense of authority and authenticity he maintains throughout the album is frankly admirable. No pretence, no grandeur, just rock and roots in its most sincere form, and as tracks such as My Rebel Spirit, Boogyman, You Are Left Behind, Feeling Of Love, and Notawe (Father), the diamonds of truth, the gemstones fashioned by experience and uniquely our own, take hold, and with a determination to have the record put straight, that inherited knowledge bares its fruit for all to finally except, if their heart is true and bold, that we must return to a world not consumed for its fleeting baubles, but for the nourishment it can provide in the soul.
A smashing album, a terrific addition to the Cree spoken tradition, one that captures an essence of humanity firmly but never allows it to be crushed.
Ian D. Hall