Album Review: Lloyd Swanton - Ambon

Probably best known as bassist with celebrated jazz improvisers The Necks, the Ambon project owes more to Lloyd Swanton's other combo — the sprawling and eclectic group the catholics.

A 12-piece ensemble soundtracks the story of the Indonesian island which became a battleground, then prison camp for an ill-starred group of Australian diggers. The music ranges from Indigenous sounds to Vaudevillian attempts at morale raising behind the wire, and hymnal reflections as conditions worsened and hope declined. In performance, it's a full audio-visual production, referencing the diary of Swanton's uncle who was one of the many to perish there. It can be heavy going, but Ambon is an emotionally affecting experience.