:: Troy Cassar-Daley - Born To Survive: The Best Of (with bonus DVD)

Troy Cassar-Daley

Maltese-Aboriginal singer-songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley has been a stalwart of the Australian country music scene ever since the release of his debut single, the Aboriginal pride anthem Dream Out Loud, back in 1994. Whilst not exactly a household name, Cassar-Daley has carved himself an incredibly successful career, bagging ARIA Awards-a-plenty and reaching the top spot on the Country Tracks Top 30 an incredible 13 times. An added measure of his success is the calibre of his supporting performers, featured here are duets with luminaries such as Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes and Slim Dusty. Album opener Born To Survive could be said to neatly sum up Cassar-Daley’s oeuvre, a tale of struggling farmers bravely fighting against the odds, though it could be about anyone, the sentiment being transferable to the experiences of city-born battlers. This, along with much of the newer material, proves that this is no round-up of a failing muse. Over the years, Cassar-Daley’s songwriting has remained strong, and the rough edges of his vocals have been smoothed away, leaving a warm, rich tone befitting the maturity of his latest work. The bonus DVD includes live performances and an opportunity to take a peek into Cassar-Daley’s home life. Fans will not be disappointed.