REVIEW: COOEE – MESSENGERS

Mutual admiration and a seemingly chance meeting at the recording of Jack River’s Triple J Like A Version are the seeds from which Cooee’s Messengers grew. That day in 2023, Jack River was doing a cover of Amyl and The Sniffers' ‘Guided By Angels’ – proud Gunai multidisciplinary artist Kirli Saunders was providing backing vocals and Mark Chester Harding was there on guitar. 

As Blakfullas we often talk about being guided by the ancestors and the ancestors providing the way forward. There is a sense of this concept that emanates throughout their debut album, Messengers. It's a gentle strength that is carried through the songs, as if it is the strength of ancestors that guides the words that Kirili sings, words that have swirled for generations and are now articulated through her lens. The gentle strength of Mark’s compositions provides the launching pad for Kirili’s words to come to life. 

The opening song and title track 'Messengers' begins with field recordings of bird call before piano forms the base for the song. There is an urgency in the song's refrain as Kirili voices her frustration with the disastrous environmental impact of climate change. It is world-weary but defiant as she sings, “we know our world is burning at the hands of greed".

Weaved throughout the album are stories of Country and community as we know they are intrinsically linked. Hearing this first song, I’m reminded of the time I heard Uncle Roger Knox say Aboriginals were the first environmentalists – we intrinsically care for Country, and this is apparent across Kirli’s lyrics. This opening track spells that out for the listener before the album meanders across the feelings that Kirli expresses in her lyrics and poetry. With each a listen, a different line will jump out giving the song a whole new meaning. It seems that every word used is intentional and it really grows on you with each repeat.

‘Daisies’ deepens Kirli's connection to Country. Through her words, she becomes Country: “...'til I grow roots. Become one of theirs. One of the daisies”. It's about being one with Country and listening to what Country has to say. We know the relationship between ourselves and Country — there is a need to listen to Country because when it is not well, we are not well. This theme is explored throughout the album including on on ‘Dingo Song’: “And he is one and the same with our Country. Renew the trust that all is as it should be".

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‘Yadingji’ is a song that was created on Dhawaral lands in Dhawaral language. It translates loosely to "my gratitude", often as a way to say thanks. It’s an endearing love letter to both community and Country. As with so much of this album, there is an undeniable joy that runs throughout the song. Kirli reflects on the song by saying, “For me it’s a word that encapsulates the cultural attitude we have as First Nations peoples toward Country and our community. It’s a song of love and gratitude, for the land, and our Old People". Several songs on Messengers celebrate the love of Mob and community – ‘Sacred Womans Ways’ celebrates knowing sacred knowledge and trusting in the old ways,whilst on ‘Downstream’, Kirli sings about trusting the old ways in the modern world we live in: “I’m remembering how to simply float and go downstream”. It reminds me of the sentiment that resting can be a form of resistance too, when she sings, “Resist while resting, we’ll know when it’s time to dance". Often we get caught up in the bustle of daily life but on ‘Downstream’ the necessity to slow down is illustrated for us, to listen to this album and the gentle strength that it holds.

Whilst the core of Cooee is the duo of Kirli Saunders and Mark Chester Harding, they have been able to build bigger worlds and community through song. The best projects bring the Mob along with them, and this is what Cooee is able to do so effortlessly — a community centred on Blak joy and self-expression. Each person lifting the other up to create something absolutely magical. They call on Mudjingaal Yangamba Choir throughout as well as other friends to contribute to this undertaking/ceremony of an album including Djirringanj musician Warren Foster Jr, violin from Ngiyampaa, Yuin and Gumbayngirr artist Eric Avery, yidaki by Kairi man Broc Piazza alongside Harry Day (Middle Kids), Campbell Messer (King Stingray), Nic Johnston (Sons of the East), Josh Rea (The Dreggs) and Allan Kumpulainen (Dappled Cities).
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🎧 Listen to Cooee – Messengers (2026)
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By Will Brussen