stephen blyth’s blog

The Go-Betweens album I last thrashed on the turntable was “16 Lovers Lane”, released in 1988. This was the band’s sixth and final album from their first time together. Typical of their aching literary pop it’s easy to be swept out to sea when listening to it.

Since those heady days I’ve been wary of revisiting my old musical stomping ground so I’ve basically avoided any new Go-Betweens music. During the 1990s I didn’t bother getting any of the band members’ solo efforts, and I ignored the albums released during a second coming from 2000-2006. Nor have I been playing the albums which I’ve miraculously clung onto in their original vinyl despite carting them from flat to flat over the years.

My avoidance ended yesterday. During a download frenzy from emusic (where I got 75 bonus songs for returning to the mp3 music service on top of the the 30 I paid for) I came across a copy of Robert Forster’s third solo album, “The Evangelist”, released just a week or so ago.

It’s a particularly poignant album, as it includes songs he began writing with Grant McLennan, a former Go-Between and Forster’s song-writing partner of 30 years, who died suddenly in 2005.

You can hear the pain. With Forster still singing in his plaintive, angular tones, the emotion is very raw but now surrounded by pretty arrangements.

Forster has also written and talked about the sadness sitting not far from the surface on the new album. A couple of weeks ago a long article appeared in The Times of London (see “Former Go-Between Robert Forster pays tribute to his mate with Evangelist”), plus there is an interview and some songs on a Times music podcast recorded in February and an interview in the Australian newspaper (see the “Flying Solo” video).

As I dive into my back catalogue of Go-Betweens albums it’s remarkable how memorable and unchanged Forster’s voice is. On “Spring Hill Fair” the vocals are crystal clear laid over a sparse sound with jangly guitars, a loan stop start snare, and at times plodding bass. It’s 4/4 rock and roll, but mostly slow and sardonic. On first re-take, the music has survived remarkably well.

Up shortly - when the album finishes downloading from emusic - a 2006 concert recording from the Tivoli in Brisbane.

I’m enjoying dusting off the old albums and listening to the profound (some would say earnest) lyrics. On being reacquainted with the Go-Betweens my mood is kinda subdued and reflective, not melancholy nor am I dancing on rooftops. Very fitting for a dull, spare autumn day.

PS. As the coincidences continue, this morning Julian showed me the recent two album set featuring a disc each by McLennan and Forster. Despite the evocative packaging and catchy tunes, I’m trying not to re-ignite my Go-Between tendencies, so I won’t be getting a copy of it.

PPS. For more history, a discography, past tour dates, news, etc see: The Go-Betweens on wikipedia and a UK Go-Betweens fan site.