Increase the Peace
Dili Allstars
Shock Records
<http://www.diliallstars.com>
The Dili Allstars' latest EP is a cross-country collaboration. This is nothing new for the Dilis, but this time they extend their collaboration into Indigenous territory. Increase the Peace contains five songs and has East Timor and Indigenous Australia in mind. Referring to the conflicts which tear these communities apart, caused by poverty, unemployment and the trauma of dispossession, the Dilis appeal to the grassroots to "increase the peace" for the sake of the future. When governments prove unable to lead their people towards a just peace, what is there to do but appeal to the people to take it upon themselves to make it a reality — this is the message.
Performing at an eclectic mix of rallies, benefits, festivals, birthday parties and a 2003 tour of Portugal sponsored by the Communist Party there, the seven-piece funk, ska, rock and reggae band are always enjoyable to watch. Composed of Timorese-Australian musos, as well as the inimitable Paulie Stewart, formerly of Painters and Dockers, the band's gigs are always high-energy, crazy and guaranteed to get bodies and limbs moving.
The Dili phenomenon also keeps drawing new people in. On this release, they've been joined by Osme, a Timorese rapper, some Indigenous Australian performers such as June Mills and Australian-Italian singer songwriter Kavisha Mazzela. A relatively new band member is also Zeca Mesquita, a talented Timorese actor and percussionist. Mesquita was one of the stars in the ABC TV/Canadian coproduction, Answered by Fire, broadcast on ABC TV in May. The Dilis were responsible for the haunting music of that miniseries.
As well as the title track, the CD also features the Dilis' own version of "No Woman No Cry" which is done in English, Tetum and Portuguese. The Timorese struggle anthem "O Helele" is also here. Those who attended Timorese solidarity protests would have heard it sung while Timorese youth were dancing the tebe tebe in the streets of Jakarta, Lisbon, Melbourne and Dili, protesting for their country's right to freedom. "Cool World" is full of infectious uplifting reggae and ska beats.
Paulo Almeida's voice soars through most of the tracks — singing in a mixture of languages, a product of his experience of living in several countries during East Timor's occupation by Indonesia, as well as in his mother tongue of Tetum.
The CD will be launched on Friday December 8 at 9.30pm at the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne.