| Author | Message | ||
     Paul S. Member Username: Prema Post Number: 33 Registered: 11-2005 |
I wrote to Glenn Thompson last night to inquire about his solo CD that he released in 2006. He graciously and promptly replied just now. By the by, I asked about the recent Robert Forster shows. Here's what he said: "The Four Ages shows were recorded but there are no plans to release them any time soon. Robert, Adele and myself are currently in London recording an album to be released early next year." Is everybody happy? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 902 Registered: 08-2006 |
Yes, indeed. (Damn message board three-word rule.) | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 708 Registered: 09-2006 |
Everybody is happy. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 709 Registered: 09-2006 |
But I'm assuming that the band isn't going to be called the Go-Betweens... | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 912 Registered: 08-2006 |
I'd be really surprised if it was anything but a Forster record, even if he appropriates some of Grant's songs-in-progress. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1533 Registered: 04-2005 |
He won't call it the Go-Betweens. Book it. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 711 Registered: 09-2006 |
Nah, I didn't think so either...I can imagine the thought crossing his mind and a shudder going over his face... | ||
| Paul S. Member Username: Prema Post Number: 34 Registered: 11-2005 |
No, but it would be nice to resurrect the Warm Nights again, wouldn't it? It's an evocative name. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 720 Registered: 10-2004 |
Yes, using the "Warm Nights" name would be appropriate too, given that the very same members will be involved. However, I do hope we can expect something far better than the actual "Warm Nights" album. At any rate, it's really exciting to hear they are recording. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 83 Registered: 10-2006 |
Something far better than the actual Warm Nights album for me will amount to RF's equivalent to Blood on the tracks, I guess... I ADORE the WN disc, I probably listen to it more than anything else he and Grant and the GBs have done. | ||
| Duncan Hurwood Member Username: Duncan_h Post Number: 82 Registered: 05-2005 |
Even Fortress, and Jug of Wine? | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2290 Registered: 03-2006 |
I think he should use that moniker, but add a "K" to "Nights"...."Robert Forster and his Warm Knights" - wouldn't that look great on a marquee? | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 85 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hell’s teeth, Duncan, yes, I even like Fortress and Jug of Wine! I like a bit of brass in a song, anyway, probably put a trumpet on everything if I was a musician…and the brass oompah fits well into the slightly Central European air of these two “cabaret” songs – there’s always been a cabaret aspect to RF’s music! – and I like: I woke up fully breathing Beneath a blue childhood sky and: The colour of your eyes would open a fortress, The code of your eyes, it said sadness and I like the laconic insouciance of the songs, the clipped minimalism of their arrangements, the (I suppose) reference to Omar Kayyam (A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou Beside me, singing in the Wilderness) and the plaintive tune of Fortress. Despite its summery title the album has an autumnal reflective feel to it, a yearning consideration of the “Two roads out of this city”, the past and the future, youth and maturity, the music-life (I can do, Snakeskin Lady, R & R Friend) and the love-life (Cryin love, Loneliness, Street corner) and the often terrible incompatibility of the two, so Jug & Fortress, the only two songs on the album that seem to be written from within a successful working relationship, three-ring circus though it might be, offer an oasis of repose amongst the torment of nostalgia and regret, the tension of love sacrificed for the rock n roll lifestyle balanced by the satisfaction of there being something creative you “can do” that helps make up for it. | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2005 |
Well put Stuart! The Fortress is great. The brass comes (I think) from an idea to make some kind of Transformer inspired track (Goodnight Ladies etc.). Live, in a three man band setting, pre Warm Nights (band and album), the song was simple, dramatic and effective, an instant favourite of mine. I admit that the album version never quite matched my enthusiasm, but it's still a fine song. Jug of Wine is IMHO the weakest track on Warm Nights. (But still OK!) | ||
| Duncan Hurwood Member Username: Duncan_h Post Number: 83 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love the rest of the album Jug of Wine is skipped in my household. Fortress could be a great song, but I don't think it is on that album. I too love the "two roads out of the city" part. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2006 |
No news leaking out about how things are going? | ||
| AS Member Username: Labelguy Post Number: 25 Registered: 05-2005 |
Things are going extremely well. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 104 Registered: 10-2006 |
Oh, jolly good. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1033 Registered: 08-2006 |
According to the news section of the site, Robert's new album is called "The Evangelist" and there's a short bit on its recording in the December Mojo. Anyone seen the article? | ||
| Richard Higgins Member Username: Richard Post Number: 9 Registered: 05-2005 |
Due March 2008 producer Mark Wallis & Dave ruffy songs: Demon Days, A Place to Hide Away, Let Your light In The Buzz: "it's 10 songs long and is my first solo album in 10 years.In May 2006 Grant McLennan, my songwriting partner died bringing to an end The Go Betweens.I wasn't sure if I was ever going to make another record, but this summer it just materialised.I've written seven of the songs, three co -written with Grant. It's produced by Mark and Dave who did Oceans Apart but it's not Oceans Apart 2- it's something else,but with trails going into the past" | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1035 Registered: 08-2006 |
Nice, thanks, Richard. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 814 Registered: 10-2004 |
Yes, thanks for posting, Richard. Is this the same Dave Ruffy (credited here as co-producer) who used to play drums for Aztec Camera? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1614 Registered: 04-2005 |
Although I hope we don't have a replay of the OA sound quality debacle, I'm glad Mark Wallis is producing it, as I think Robert needs a producer who prods him to flesh out the arrangements and not settle for too-simple two- and three-chord guitar/bass/drums vamps. "Here Comes a City," "Darlinghurst Nights," and "Mountains Near Dellray" all benefited a great deal from well thought out, detailed arrangements. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2470 Registered: 03-2006 |
That Robert is adhering to the "10 song rule" I think bodes well for the discipline-level of the project. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 817 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kurt - I echo those sentiments completely. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 350 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks for posting that Richard. Only four months to wait... | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 890 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'm looking forward to March 2008. Now that the G-B's are now more, I wonder what lables "The Evangelist" will be on? Yep Roc seems to be very artist friendly, even thought they didn't participate in the improved mix/original mix OA exchange. I would hope they maintain their reletionship with Robert for North America. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 827 Registered: 10-2004 |
Of course for us in the US, it might be delayed a month like OA was when it came out. But still, I'm *really* anxious to hear this. This may be the most anticipated Forster solo release of his career. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 896 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, and hopefully an anticipated North American tour to follow! | ||
| peter ward Member Username: Peter_ward Post Number: 54 Registered: 06-2005 |
Recieved a CD copy of "I Had A New York Girlfriend" in the post during the week to replace my cassette copy. Tried to do this for a while and was surprised to find several copies thru' Amazon. Maybe these will be reissued with additional tracks sometime soon.. wonder what other covers Robert did at this time that did not make the album, off to bed to listen to his wonderful version of "Broken Hearted People" G'Night! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1911 Registered: 05-2005 |
Tell u what, he loks better than ever too! Can't wait to hear it. I still think Danger in the past is one of the greatest albums of all time, sleeve concept, typography and the tunes, obviously. 17 years oldl!!! Agggghhhhhhhhhhhhh! | ||
| Svein Inge Saether Member Username: Springrain Post Number: 22 Registered: 08-2006 |
Any news on the release date? | ||
| AS Member Username: Labelguy Post Number: 29 Registered: 05-2005 |
continental Europe April 04. Label tuition vinyl available as well. In the meantime check out The Winnebago Orchestra´s wonderful new album "Born In The Sun" Cheers | ||
| Richard Higgins Member Username: Richard Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2005 |
From Yep Roc mailing- Go-Betweens co-founder Robert Forster to release new solo album The Evangelist, April 29th on Yep Roc Records "I love it - very moving and Robert is in excellent voice." - Thom Jurek, Allmusic Guide After the death of Grant McLennan, his writing partner of twenty five years, Robert Forster was unsure if he would ever record again. The body of work he had assembled in their seminal band The Go-Betweens surpassed all their contemporaries in its quality and consistency. Many commentators have pronounced them the greatest ever Australian group. Yet here, almost two years after McLennan's tragic demise, Forster returns with a stunning album that is both wildly progressive and haunted by the ghost of his soul mate. It offers the brave and heartrending insight of a man at the crossroads of his life that will find a place in the soul of anyone who has endured loss. Like its predecessor, the Go-Betweens' swan song Oceans Apart, it was produced by Mark Wallis and Dave Ruffy at Good Luck Studios in South London. The band consists of remaining Go-Betweens and long time collaborators; bassist Adele Pickvance and drummer Glenn Thompson. They are augmented by Audrey Riley who provided the string arrangements on the legendary Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express. The songs daringly run the gamut of emotion and arrangement; 'Demon Days', co-written with Grant McLennan shortly before he died, is a spine tingling journey into oblivion. 'Pandanus' and 'Did She Overtake You' are lively juggernauts that delightfully reprise the rhythmic tensions of Spring Hill Fair. 'The Evangelist' is a wistful cousin to 'He Lives My Life' and 'From Ghost Town' is a deeply personal and poignant farewell to a lost brother. Throughout, The Evangelist is a masterpiece of honesty and compassion. Robert Forster recently described the album thus: "It's 10 songs long and is my first solo album in 11 years. In May 2006 Grant McLennan, my song writing partner died, bringing to an end The Go-Betweens. I wasn't sure if I was ever going to make another record but this summer it just materialized. It's a direct record. I've written seven of the songs, and three are co-written with Grant. Adele and Glenn from The Go-Betweens are with me. It's not Oceans Apart 2 - it's something else, but with trails going into the past and I'm proud of it." | ||
| Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 155 Registered: 11-2004 |
Brilliant news, my keyboard is almost defunct though salivation at the prospect. Any rumours of any gigs to promote the record? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1021 Registered: 01-2005 |
I can't wait! I'll bet it outsells any pervious RF solo album. | ||
| Matthias Member Username: Matthias Post Number: 242 Registered: 05-2005 |
http://www.abc.net.au/dig/stories/s21446 36.htm A bit more info with tracklist. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 974 Registered: 10-2004 |
Oh man, April 29 seems so far away! | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 575 Registered: 04-2006 |
michael, if anyone bets for the other opinion and he/she will be right she/he is rich... (sorry for that english stammering). greta news and april is not far away... | ||
| Gee Member Username: Gee Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2005 |
Any sign of a RF Myspace/preview mp3's of this? April is just too far away. |