Down Home & Epic
Listening Post 369. Strikingly fresh and warmly familiar, George Telek’s music offers a study in contrasts. One of the few singer-songwriters from Papua New Guinea to achieve international renown, he cloaks his touching voice in a stylistic range extending from rock and reggae to string-band airs and Melanesian harmonies. Kambek (Coming Back), his latest album, is the first recorded in his home base of Rabaul, in East New Britain province, since a volcanic eruption destroyed the town in 1994; it’s also the first since the artist’s battle with mouth cancer, which mercifully left his voice unaffected. Over a 40-year career, Telek has fronted Papuan bands, collaborated with leading Australian artists, won an ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Award) for Best Global Music Album, recorded on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label and won raves from Rolling Stone, Billboard USA and The Times of London—becoming a father figure on his country’s artistic horizon and remaining a loyal son of the Tolai people. On Kambek, backed by long-time musician-friends, he sings in Kuanua (language of the Tolai) and Tok Pisin (his country’s lingua franca), focusing on personal and communal joys and struggles, embracing advocacy, homage, dietary advice and the spirit world. Telek gives his voice to a woman’s lament in the lead track, Nokem Paitim Meri (Don’t Beat Your Wife, video 1); and takes on the twin causes of protecting the environment and fighting corruption in Giraun Em I Laif  (This Land Is Our Life, video 2). Personal relations run through Best Talaigu (Best Friend, video 3), evoking nostalgia for a faraway comrade and Among Nata (Shark Spirit, video 4), remembering those who are beyond return. And Gadin Kaikai (Garden Food, video 5) extols the benefits of sustenance from the village green. At once unpretentious and epic, Telek’s music expands our vision and shrinks our world. (Wantok Musik)

Kambek (I Lilikun Mulai)*
George Telek: Lead vocals
John Warbat: Guitars
Lloyde Coplen: Guitars
Phil Wales: Guitars
Henry Maniot: Drums
John Hakalitz: Drums
John “Pooger” Yass: Bass
Paul Cartwright: Bass
McLaren Vengiau: Keyboards
David Bridie: Keyboards
Featuring the Moab Stringband from Raluana: Kaul Wartir, Wargi Apelis, Waina Henry Pindiat, Amos Boas

*The album title translates as “Coming Back” in Tok Pisin and (Kuanua)

Related post: George Telek, David Bridie & Musicians of the Gunantuna. Songs from a Bit na Ta, Listening Post 85, Feb 8, 2017. https://worldlisteningpost.com/2017/02/08/george-telek-david-bridie-musicians-of-the-gunantuna-songs-from-a-bit-na-ta/

Noken Paitim Meri / Don’t Beat Your Wife
Lyrics & music: George Telek

(From the Tok Pisin lyrics, translation by Steven Gagau)
When we got married, we made the promise that
You are my wife and I love you
Our marriage was very good
But it’s jealousy that is ruining our relationship 

We have children because of our trust
Wherever I go I still think of you
I cannot be thinking of another man
I only love you and our children 

Chorus
Do not beat your wife
Have pity on me my husband
I am your wife
If you do not love me anymore
Just leave me
So I can go back to my family

We have seen many women losing their lives
Because of senseless wife beating
As I get these beatings, I worry a lot
I have had enough now so I will leave you
But I will still (always) love you

Giraun Em I Laif / This Land Is Our Life
Lyrics & music: George Telek

(From the Tok Pisin lyrics)
So much bad attitude
It’s happening now
We have to look after the land
God gave this land to us
The blessing is here, the blessing is everywhere 

Don’t put up with corruption
We have to look after our rights and develop our country
Only then will we be okay

Chorus
This land is our life
This land is our life
We have to think of next generation
Otherwise we will left out
And be slaves in our own country

Best Talaigu / Best Friend
Lyrics & music: George Telek

(From the Kuanua lyrics)
Thinking of you, where about you are tonight
It’s hard for me to forget you
You’re my best friend

You feel the music, 93 FM announces that you are sending regards to me
You’re my best friend

Chorus
You left, went to a different place, far away from me
I worried so much about you
Good times we spent together, I will never forget you 

Thinking of you, where about you are tonight
It’s hard for me to forget you
You’re my best friend 

You feel the music 93 FM announce that you are sending regards to me
You’re my best friend

Among Nata / Shark Spirit
Lyrics & music: George Telek

(From the Kuanua lyrics, translation by Steven Gagau)
We think about them all the time
When we are in the village we dance
Our spirit dance, our ceremonial movement

With sadness was are mourning and crying in the village
Our spirit dance, our ceremonial movement

Vidiralomiiii
Vidiralomiiii

Chorus
Where are these people?
They aren’t here anymore
We have been have looking around everywhere uuuu

We sing the tune of pinpidik song in the village
Our spirit dance, our ceremonial movement
We celebrate with our spirit dance, our ceremonial movement

Vidiralomiiii, vidiralomiiii
The shark spirit from the sea

Gadin Kaikai / Garden Food
Lyrics & music: George Telek

(From the Tok Pisin lyrics)
Listen to this good message, all you men and women of PNG
We must eat well, eat the food from your village garden

Garden food makes you strong all the time, it gives you energy and strength to work
And gives you the strength to fight all kinds of illness

Chorus
Listen very careful to this advice
Work hard in your village garden
The food is very good for your health, and it helps our life

We must be very careful when we buy food from the trade store
Don’t buy up too much on unhealthy food and leave yourself open to being sick
We must stay strong all the time, work hard in your village garden, eat garden food and stay strong