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 I've been collecting recordings of traditional indigenous music for well over a decade now. When I started looking for field recordings from Arnhem Land, Australia I found that many of my usual sources were disappointingly thin on the subject. I believe it was in 1994 that I wandered into a small Australian shop and saw a CD called, "Arnhem Land - Authentic Australian Aboriginal Songs and Dances", the A.P. Elkin collection.

This was an exciting find for me on several levels. Firstly, while I had read many papers and a few books by A.P. Elkin, I was completely unaware of any sound recordings or even descriptive text about Arnhem Land music. Also, it was on CD! All of my collection at that time was on cassette tape. Unfortunately, I wasn't in possession of the $19 the disc cost. Making a mental note to return as soon as possible, I left empty handed.

 When I did return a few days later, cash in hand, there where no copies left. So I inquired about it. The person told me that they only ever had that recording on cassette tape. "But I saw a CD here last week", I replied. When I was informed that "perhaps" I had seen the CD at another shop I took a different tact. I asked if there where any other sound recordings of Aboriginals from Arnhem Land available. She produced cassette copies of the Moyle series, but I already owned those. When informed that I already owned everything else they had I was told the following (which I remember to this day), "Well there is only so much traditional one can carry." She went on to explain that it sounded pretty much the same and that most people will only ever buy one recording.

 For people to whom all sound recordings didn't sound alike, the odds of easily finding a variety of recordings from different regions and different time periods where until recently quite challenging. Even knowing of the existence of a recording was thrilling to me for a number of years. Such was the case when I discovered Arnhem Land Popular Classics, a collection of recordings made in 1962. Although the quality of the reissued recordings is poor, the documentation dreadfully inaccurate and the song subjects themselves rather ordinary it was a real find for me in 1996. But issues of intellectual property and accuracy of field notes are both better left to experts in those areas. Better to discuss how much has changed for the better in availability of recordings to those interested in the music itself.

 Very recently, several people have contributed to a database of recordings that is searchable and contains many sources for obtaining the recordings you seek. This is www.manikay.com . On Manikay (a Yolngu word translated as "song") you will not only find an easy to use and vast database of recordings, links and videos. You will find also discussion forums for instrument making, playing and music appreciation. Definitely a site to bookmark! A very comprehensive discography of top end music is available from Peter Lister on line at http://www.uws.edu.au/vip/listerp/discog.html and there is a PDF version of Australian Aboriginal recording artists at : http://www.screensound.gov.au/pdf/collectionguide_indigenousartists1899-1988.pdf .

 Things have improved for us on the retail availability as well. Not only for recordings, but access to real traditional instruments (a woeful topic I'll take on in a future article called "the great lie"). www.djalu.com is home to Rripangu, the family business of Djalu Gurruwiwi. Here you will find a wealth of information on culture as well as the opportunity to by instruments made by true master craftsmen of the Yolngu. As for the recordings, well many new (that's right new) recordings of high quality have been produced in Arnhem Land as well increased interest in both contemporary and traditional Aboriginal music. A great resource and one I have used extensively is http://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au. Very easy to use, updated frequently and lots of material people like us are interested in. Skinny Fish is an independent record label, and distributor of quality Australian Indigenous music.

 Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre (http://www1.octa4.net.au/yirrkala-arts/buku/listpage.html) is the non-profit community art center and museum run by the Aboriginal artists of North-east Arnhem. There you will find a wealth of information on the land, the people and the art of Northeastern Arnhem Land. Also visit http://www.bu.aust.com/maningrida/ , one of Australia's largest community based Aboriginal Arts cooperatives. And if you are interested in the culture of Western Arnhem Land indigenous peoples, pay a visit to the White Cockatoo at http://www.whitecockatoo.com.

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