Let Love Rule

It's been four years since the release of "Into the Bloodstream", the album that marked his return to recording in the wake of unimaginable setbacks including a stroke, lung cancer and the loss of Ruby Hunter, his partner in life and music. Those close to him saw the healing effect of that record - on Archie and his audiences. For Archie himself, it was a chance to begin to live again. "It's a two-way thing. The audience gives me so much back - it's hard to explain. But that's actually what I do this for … to get that interaction with the audience."

Unlike his early albums, "Let Love Rule" was written around a definite concept. "On this album I wanted to explore the theme of love - what it is, what it means," said Archie. "I wanted to write about love, or a willingness to love all people." He was concerned by what he saw happening in the world and particularly in Australia. "We are closing ourselves off and not letting people in. And not just in the sense of not letting them into the country, but not letting them into our hearts, into our minds. This country was built on people coming here from other countries. That's what made Australia what it is today."

Although musically the album traverses a range of styles, there is a thread of spirituality woven through the fabric of the record. In keeping with that, two choirs feature on the record. Deborah Cheetham's Dhungala Children's Choir and the Short Black Opera choir (around 40 voices in all) are a moving and uplifting addition to the title track "Let Love Rule" and to "No More Bleeding".

Archie also explored a different vocal approach during the recording. "I'd been listening to Solomon Burke and I was so struck by the way he sings, the way he plays around with a song," said Archie. "On "Always Be Here" and even parts of "Mighty Clarence River" where I sing "be free, gotta be free" … that's pure Solomon Burke."

"Let Love Rule" is the tenth album in an extraordinary career and its release sees Archie Roach in an older and wiser frame of mind. "As you get older, you tend to look at things more on a universal level. You realise everybody suffers. Everybody goes through hard times. Your understanding grows." That understanding has produced one of his most uplifting albums. "Ultimately, this album is about what I wish for. I'm not necessarily trying to get others to believe that as well. I'm just saying - this is me … this is what I hope."