![]() ![]() So, Mouth of the River isn’t one of my favourite records, and not one of my favourite experiences. And then you have the added pressure of people watching you. Yeah! Cause you have to do a good performance. Is it a personal thing when you are recording? It was probably the best song we recorded, but then we did a whole record, and then – it was this open session that you record, and anyone can come in and watch – and I found that…I found that was freaking the crap out of me – everyone has to leave! Iggy Pop and Johnny Depp came to the show in Bath and saw us play – and Iggy sang a song with us the next day. We went to Peter Gabriel’s studio in Bath – we did this recording, we made this album called The Mouth of the River, and I hated the whole experience. We did, when we went to England and did WOMAD. Vika can’t remember if she met Peter Gabriel, however it wasn’t a time remembered fondly for the Bulls, which included recording an unreleased song with Iggy Pop (on the track “I Know Where to Go to Feel Good”). While in the UK they spent a week at Peter Gabriel’s studio in Bath recording their next album, The Mouth of the River (a compilation of songs from their debut, plus some new tracks) which was released on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. During the next year they toured Europe with a backing band. In November 1994, the Bulls supported Billy Joel on his Australian tour for three weeks. The album was a genuine success, and if the Bulls had any doubts in leaving The Black Sorrows, they would have been placated by its success. It was a commercial sounding album, as exemplified on the Seymour penned “When Will You Fall for Me”. ![]() Produced by Kelly with Vika & Linda, the album contained songs from such Australian music luminaries such as Kelly, Stephen Cummings, Joe Camilleri and Mark Seymour. 7 on the ARIA Chart and reached platinum status. Yes, Lick Pier, your ginger beer is delicious and Vika and I would be great brand ambassadors! Take note! Vika & Linda’s debut album came out in 1994 – it reached No. Vika and I have a conversation in a Carlton North café, where we are dining on a chicken and leek pie and more importantly having a few alcoholic ginger beers. Their appearance on Paul’s album and worldwide tour was a welcome reminder of how their voices, either harmonising or solo, have been a mellifluous feature of Australian music for the past thirty years. Vika’s powerful and expressive rendition of “My Man’s Got A Cold” – Vika’s voice distinctive, pushing the fabric of the song, as she laments her lover who is stricken down with “man-flu” and who is even saying no to the offer of fellatio! While Linda’s gentle and country tinged vocals on the track “Don’t Explain” sizzles with emotion. ![]() Being part of the RockWiz orchestra, including both television exposure and a national tour, and of course, appearances on Paul Kelly’s albums, recently most notably 2017’s Life Is Fine, where Paul gave Vika and Linda a song each to contribute to the album. Despite their lack of prolificity, Vika & Linda’s profile has not waivered for many reasons. Even though the Bull sisters have been in the Australian consciousness for thirty years since their powerful, beautiful, harmonising vocals appeared on The Black Sorrow’s Hold on to Me (1988) album, the Bull sisters have only made four studio albums and one album of re-recorded updated versions of their songs, since their eponymous debut was released in 1994. A long awaited Vika & Linda album, accompanying tour, and even a new Paul Kelly album – as Vika says, “Beautiful….his best work ever!” It is hard to believe that Vika & Linda have not made an album of new material since 2002’s Love is Mighty Close. It’s going to be a big year for Vika Bull. ![]()
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