Keanu Nelson – Wilurarrakutu [LP]

"Deeply moving Casio jams from central Australia…

Keanu Nelson is a young Aboriginal Australian artist from the remote but artistically rich community of Papunya, northwest of Alice Springs. He paints in the Western Desert movement style, and, on this album, sings poems from his notebook over minimalist DIY Casio beats programmed by Yuta Matsumura.

We heard his debut album, released last year on the local Altered States label, and were blown away. We’re happy to work with Keanu to re-issue the record on a wider scale, hopefully bringing this vital music and unique voice to (slightly) more people.

Keanu wrote these songs as private poems about family, home, and loss. He was finally inspired to sing them, make them public and loudly heard, after meeting Matsumura at the Papunya Tjupi Arts Centre. Inspired by the strong local gospel scene and reggae beats passed around the community via USB sticks, they created eight haunting, seering, lonely tracks, somehow familiar yet totally new, sung in both Papunya Luritja and English. Someone said it’s like Francis Bebey meets Suicide meets a slew of home-made Soundcloud artists, broadcasting from one of the most remote places on earth. A completely beautiful and original sonic work that should not be missed!!!!"

Efficient Space, 2025