Paper Can't Wrap Fire by Don Glori

Steering in a new direction, Don Glori (aka Gordon Li) has delved headfirst into his songwriting with "Paper Can't Wrap Fire." Deftly showcasing his talents as a writer and bandleader, he brings with him a whole host of friends from the creative crossroads of Naarm. It's an album enriched with more soul, R&B, and funk-oriented songs than his previous jazz-rooted productions, yet there's still plenty of jazz material for those familiar fans of Don's earlier works.

The album's title is an old Chinese proverb, roughly translated as "you can't deny the truth." This underlying thread is woven between the songs. "A lot of them are in some way about truth-seeking, observations, and the masks you put on to deal with life (hence the cover art)", Don mentions. Take, for instance, the sensational soul single "Brown Eyes" featuring silky lead vocals by ML Hall. A dissection of the minority experience, and the power and comfort in building those communities. Elsewhere, "Disaster" is a satirical take on the structures serving everyone but the artists, and "Flicker" tackles notations of truth and clarity after introspection.

To marry that meaning with the level of musicianship on these tracks is what really stands out. Don has set out his stall here as an artist who can write songs that hit home in the heart as much as they do in the head. It's a journey infused with a glistening jazz finesse, layered with nourishing vocal harmonies, and powered by an instantly relatable human soul.

Recorded over two hot summer days in Rolling Stock Studios in Collingwood, Naarm, the lineup of musicians is made up of Don's friends and family. Featuring the backbone team of Tim Cox, Al Kennedy, Joel Trigg, Robyn Cummins, and Lachlan Thompson, who were part of Don's touring band before he relocated to London, and a stunning selection of vocalists in the form of ML Hall, Ruby Dargaville, Isadora Lauritz, and Bianca Kyriacou. Also gracing the album are trumpeter extraordinaire Audrey Powne, saxophonist Joshua Moshe, and Alcides Neto, who sprinkles some Brazilian magic into the record.

Taking influence from artists including Azymuth, SAULT, Jordan Rakei, and Lynda Dawn, as well as from London musical beacons such as NTS and Total Refreshment Centre, Don has run with this, leaned in, and come out with a record truly unique to himself and his distinctive core, with no mask necessary.

Don Glori - Paper Can't Wrap Fire
Release Date May 2025
Label Mr Bongo

Tracklist
1. Don Glori - Disaster    
2. Don Glori - Brown Eyes (Ft. ML Hall)    
3. Don Glori - Flicker (Ft. ML Hall, Bianca Kyriacou)    
4. Don Glori - Janet (Ft. ML Hall)    
5. Don Glori - Song For Ants    
6. Don Glori - Power    
7. Don Glori - Precious    
8. Don Glori - Ron Song    
9. Don Glori - Saturn's Return