| Author | Message | ||
     Andreas Severins Member Username: Andreas_severins Post Number: 419 Registered: 11-2007 |
Concert tickets for May 5th available with band and Tour called Inferno: https://www.eventim.de/robert-forster-ba nd-inferno-live-tickets-bonn.html?affili ate=EVE&doc=artistPages/tickets&fun=arti st&action=tickets&key=2334832$11355630 WOW | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 444 Registered: 05-2005 |
RF / "2019 will be my lucky year. A wave is forming and I hope to see you and haunt your cities in the coming year. I can say no more." | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1485 Registered: 10-2006 |
If he manages to haunt a bit further south in Europe than he usually does, I shall be a happy man. | ||
| Fred Tadrowski Member Username: Ftadrowski Post Number: 82 Registered: 03-2015 |
Best news I have heard in awhile. The hardest working man in show business is back again. | ||
| Mekon Member Username: Mekon Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2009 |
Hamburg gig on May 1st, 2019 (not among the gigs on sale at the above link): https://www.knusthamburg.de/programm/rob ert-forster-band/ Google translation of the promo text, incl album details and prospects of gigs in Europe and Australia I left the translation as google spewed it out (I'm supposed to be working...) : quote Robert Forster - Inferno "The jungle is coming up to the door, The birds are calling hard to ignore" With Inferno, Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster presents his first solo album in four years and his second in eleven years. This man only enters the studio when he believes in his songs! On Inferno there are exactly nine songs for hich this is completely true. Here, Forster offers a broad musical spectrum, starting with the cheery top-ten pop of the eponymous track "Inferno (Brisbane In Summer)", on the beach groove song "Life Has Turned A Page" and "Remain" located in New York in 1977. This poignant, astute and exciting album is finally completed with the large-scale epic "One Bird In The Sky". Inferno was created in Berlin in 2018, in the hottest German summer in decades, under the direction of renowned producer and recording engineer Victor Van Vugt (Beth Orton: "Trailer Park", PJ Harvey: "Stories From The City", "Stories From The Sea"). ). He had already produced Robert Forster's first solo project "Danger In The Past" in 1990, also in Berlin. The album is a perfect mix of familiar and new. Brisbane-based multi-instrumentalists Scott Bromley and Karin Bäumler, who played on "Songs To Play" in 2015, are back in the party. New to the band are Earl Havin (Tindersticks, Mary J. Blige) on drums and keyboarder Michael Mühlhaus (Blumfeld, Kante) - four musicians from different corners of the world. On Van Vugt's brave, beautiful production they sound like a band for eternity. Supported by this band, Forster delivers probably the best vocal performance of his career. Incidentally, in the four years since the release of "Songs To Play," Forster was by no means idle. He was, for example, editor of the Domino Records published "Anthology Volume 1 1978-1984" about his old band The Go-Betweens and wrote his memoirs under the title "Grant & I: The Go Betweens & the story ofan extraordinary friendship "in German-speaking countries. In addition, he regularly publishes writings on music themes , plays concerts and seemingly uninterruptedly writes beautiful songs. And now it's on tour with "Inferno". In April and May 2019, Robert Forster will tour Europe with a band, then in Australia in July." unquote | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8734 Registered: 05-2005 |
This is great news. Thank you. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1487 Registered: 10-2006 |
Sort of an "Anschluss" tour so far. Perhaps other old allies will be slotted in later?? Fingers crossed, then. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8737 Registered: 05-2005 |
No UK gigs due to Brexit. It's your own fault. | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 55 Registered: 05-2005 |
An exciting announcement of some sort tomorrow hopefully. | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 56 Registered: 05-2005 |
Inferno (March 1st, 2019) ‘The jungle is coming up to the door, The birds that are calling are hard to ignore’ ‘Inferno’ is acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster’s first solo album in four years - his second album over the last eleven years. Forster only makes records when he feels he has the songs - on ‘Inferno’, he has nine he totally believes in. They range from the exhilarating top ten pop of ‘Inferno (Brisbane In Summer)’, the beach shack groove of ‘Life Has Turned A Page’, via ‘Remain’s 1977 New York strut, to finish in a way that this concise, brilliant, drama and wit filled album only can - on the big build epic ‘One Bird In The Sky’. ‘Inferno’ was made in Berlin in 2018, during the hottest German summer in decades. Noted producer/engineer Victor Van Vugt (Beth Orton ‘Trailer Park’, P J Harvey ‘Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea’), recorded the album; the first time he and Forster had worked together since Van Vugt engineered Forster’s debut solo album classic ‘Danger In The Past’ in Berlin in 1990. ‘Inferno’ in its making is a perfect mix of the familiar and the new. Also working with Forster again, are Brisbane based multi-instrumentalists Scott Bromley and Karin Bãumler from ‘Songs To Play’ (2015), while new recruits are drummer Earl Havin (Tindersticks, Mary J. Blige) and keyboardist Michael Muhlhaus (Blumfeld, Kante). Four musicians from the corners of the world, who, with Van Vugt’s bold and beautiful production, sound like a band of the ages. In front of them, Forster delivers the best vocal performances of his career Over the last four years Forster has been busy. He curated the acclaimed, Domino Records released, ‘Anthology Volume 1 1978-1984’ on his old band The Go-Betweens. His memoir ‘Grant & I’ was Mojo and Uncut’s Book Of The Year. He continues to publish music journalism, play concerts, and he never stops writing beautiful songs. | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 57 Registered: 05-2005 |
https://shop.tapeterecords.com/robert-fo rster-inferno.html (Great Front Cover) Available on CD, LP &180g LP Gatefold with Tip-On-Cover incl. CD (limited to 500 copies). Release: March 1st, 2019 Tracklist: 1. Crazy Jane On The Day Of Judgement 2. No Fame 3. Inferno (Brisbane in Summer) 4. The Morning 5. Life Has Turned A Page 6. Remain 7. I’ll Look After You 8. I’m Gonna Tell It 9. One Bird In The Sky | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4007 Registered: 03-2005 |
Pretty exciting news, this. I didn't expect another album from Robert this soon. | ||
| Andreas Severins Member Username: Andreas_severins Post Number: 421 Registered: 11-2007 |
Thx, Dusty! Just ordered the deluxe version! | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 58 Registered: 05-2005 |
http://www.robertforster.net/rfnews.html Great to see details of the new album come out, and also a solid European tour as per details above (personally, looking forward to the Bristol show). To complete the triumvirate of announcements, just the Box 2 details hopefully to follow soon. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1931 Registered: 08-2006 |
I love the pendulum swing from the title "Songs to Play" to one called "Inferno." Seems like a shift in ambition. I'm very much looking forward to this. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1491 Registered: 10-2006 |
Is it an allergy thing? Pasta, gluten, something like that? | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1244 Registered: 04-2005 |
Stuart, Your post made me laugh out aloud. Same for France...it was Les Inrocks that were largely reponsible for the second coming of the Go-Betweens and look at the thanks that the nation now receives. I know his wife is German but do they REALLY need all those dates ? Looking at finances and holiday and maybe a wee trip to Glasgow to King Tuts for me ? | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1245 Registered: 04-2005 |
Stuart, Your post made me laugh out aloud. Same for France...it was Les Inrocks that were largely reponsible for the second coming of the Go-Betweens and look at the thanks that the nation now receives. I know his wife is German but do they REALLY need all those dates ? Looking at finances and holiday and maybe a wee trip to Glasgow to King Tuts for me ? | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 446 Registered: 05-2005 |
It's not finished... RF : "I want to tour more and more shows are to be added. I will be playing with the band in Australia in July, the dates to be announced in the next weeks. And I am pushing hard to play other places. Trying to get to the USA ('the crumbling house of America' as John Scheiman so poetically puts it on this page) and Canada. As I have said in the past - the 3,000 dollar US visa cost to perform there makes things hard for me. We are trying, and wanting to get to other places as well. " | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4012 Registered: 03-2005 |
"The crumbling house of America." Lovely. Too bad it's true. The $3,000 visa thing is a shock. I had no idea. That makes it amazing that he's ever played here. Even more so that PMW did, though maybe he did his on the sly. Stuart, I absolutely didn't get what you were at with your comment until Andrew's followup. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4013 Registered: 03-2005 |
Just to be on the safe side I bought a pair of tickets to the show in Islington on May 14. I am glamorously unemployed for at least the first half of next year so I can go. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1498 Registered: 10-2006 |
Randy, my mum's opening question to my bride-to-be when they met for the very first time was, "Um...so... what do you think of my son's sense of humour then?" | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 563 Registered: 08-2005 |
I will of course be going to the Fleece gig in Bristol on May 15. More than happy to meet up for a pizza or something beforehand, and we can put people up in Bath if anybody needs a bed for the night. | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 345 Registered: 05-2005 |
Let's all chip together and buy Robert a couple of decent shirts for the tour: that one he's wearing in the poster is vomit inducing. | ||
| Fred Tadrowski Member Username: Ftadrowski Post Number: 84 Registered: 03-2015 |
Attached is the introductory video for the album and an article from Brooklyn Vegan. I still like Fiji Swells for the album title. http://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-go-betw eens-robert-forster-preps-new-lp-inferno -watch-a-video-tells-us-his-top-10-of-20 18/ | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8776 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks for that, Fred. That video is just lovely. I laughed out loud at the end because just as I was thinking no one ate any of the muffins, the girl ran back to get one. Hilarious. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1257 Registered: 04-2005 |
Just added 5 hours ago...contains the first snippets of songs ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDQJL5EP ahQ | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1258 Registered: 04-2005 |
Ooops sorry it's the same one as the brooklynvegan posting ! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4032 Registered: 03-2005 |
Thanks for the links Fred and Andrew. It's a fun video. Robert's looking great. I love him signing other people's albums. | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 152 Registered: 10-2005 |
I have finally watched the video. Great. Robert has a story to tell and an album to sell. And he is proud of the record. - Does anyone know what electric band he will bring to Europe in spring? | ||
| Andreas Severins Member Username: Andreas_severins Post Number: 424 Registered: 11-2007 |
First airplay for Robert's new single on Marc Riley BBC6 after VU Waiting for my man! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00020 x6?fbclid=IwAR1WiEaQxFzej0H30NXPUyHgAwe4 O9FrmZqTMhS1OMTgMwMrzkyHOSfXW_k Love it!! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8795 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks, Andreas. There's a real Here Comes A City feeling to it, but it's a much better song. It's also very VUish. I'm playing it a second time now and it sounds even better. I love the piano, played by the ex-Blumfeld guy, presumably. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 451 Registered: 05-2005 |
I don't want to hear anything until the 30 minutes of the album are released  | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1261 Registered: 04-2005 |
Just received a message from King Tut's in Glasgow that "due to phenomenal demand" Robert's gig has been moved to Saint Luke's. Shame as I like King Tut's but this venue (new to me) looks pretty good too. http://www.stlukesglasgow.com/ | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 153 Registered: 10-2005 |
The first gig of the tour is in the tiny Nalen Klubb in Stockholm. Although it is a nice and intimate venue (less than 300 spectators) and I have a ticket, I think that Robert might move to the bigger Nalen (where Robert & Grant played in 1999). | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1521 Registered: 10-2006 |
"Deliciously wry, effortlessly melodious reflections on ageing, climate change and the debatable consolations of cult status," previews Uncut. Not so sure about the effortless part, but otherwise sounds about right. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1263 Registered: 04-2005 |
https://www.clashmusic.com/videos/robert -forster-excels-with-inferno-brisbane-in -summer The video for the single is up on YouTube. Not enough music videos around with your favourite popstar mowing their lawn. Just a personal opinion. | ||
| Portsmouth Bubblejet Unregistered guest |
The video for the first single from the album is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRlOskUc H70 | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1523 Registered: 10-2006 |
A perfect chance to grab some youtube action with a few well-proportioned Brisbane youngsters perspiring prettily beneath a single sheet; but, no, we get Robert mowing grass in a suit. Ah well: wryness will out, I suppose. | ||
| Richard Higgins Unregistered guest |
4/5 stars in the latest "Record Collector" (issue 489,page 109.....very positive although it refers to "Songs To Play" as patchy.There is also a brief review of Robert's previous solo work, good to see "Warm Nights" get some praise. | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 99 Registered: 05-2005 |
Update from Tapete today suggests the album has shipped | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 60 Registered: 05-2005 |
Popped into W.H.Smiths today and nearly shed a tear when I saw 'Inferno' awarded Album of the Month in Mojo. An excellent full-page review with it as well - really thoughtful and detailed. It's so good to see Robert getting this sort of attention and coverage. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1272 Registered: 04-2005 |
The Australian tour ! https://www.oztix.com.au/news/archive/20 19/02/14/robert-forster-announces-austra lian-album-tour-themusic/ | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4063 Registered: 03-2005 |
Wonder when my copy will get to me. It's interesting that "Songs to Play" is considered patchy. Other than "I'm So Happy for You" I consider it pretty consistent. (Robert's notion of what should kick off Side Two on an album and my notion of the same differ rather sharply on many of his albums.). Maybe it has too many personal songs for Record Collector? On the other hand I can't give "Warm Nights" much praise. It's half an album as far as I'm concerned. | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 61 Registered: 05-2005 |
Uncut review. Inferno awarded 9/10. | ||
| Martin Schori Member Username: Martin_s Post Number: 59 Registered: 05-2006 |
Received the album yesterday. Live Has Turned A Page is my favourite, but the album as a whole is really great. | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 585 Registered: 08-2005 |
Four-star review in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/m ar/01/robert-forster-inferno-review-load s-of-atmosphere-and-dry-brisbane-wit | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 62 Registered: 05-2005 |
5/5 in Irish Times | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4068 Registered: 03-2005 |
My copy arrived yesterday. I have heard it once. Either the label and I crossed wires in communications or they forgot to include my CD copy so I just have the clear vinyl. I really thought I ordered the super deluxe that came with both the vinyl and the CD. At the moment I can only listen in a room with a jumpy wooden floor and thus I have to either sit still or stay far away from the turntable to listen. I'm not going to bother the folks in Germany about it; I'll just buy a separate CD version and that way Robert gets two separate sales to me. On the first listen, it starts very strongly and Robert is in great voice. But--again, only on the first listen--it seems front-loaded with a lot of the best tracks and seems to slump a bit later. I have learned NOT to trust my initial impressions but I do think I can say that I don't understand the "patchy" comment about "Songs To Play." If all of "Inferno" was as strong as the first song I'd agree that it's a better album than "Songs to Play." That first track is mighty. But that is not my impression on play number one. There will be a play number two today of course. None of this is intended to criticize "Inferno." I'm criticizing the faint praise being given to "Songs to Play." | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 63 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, I like the way you are so piqued about the 'Songs to Play' barb from Record Collector. Don't ease off. Played Inferno three times now (headphones at work while marking). I think it's probably the strongest of his solo triad post 'Ocean's Apart', but it always takes me a long time to really measure a new Forster album. For now, only track 8 sounds relatively weak (often means a grower. I remember disliking 'Something for Myself' for quite a while until it suddenly 'clicked'). I already agree the opening track is a belter though. | ||
| Fred Tadrowski Member Username: Ftadrowski Post Number: 89 Registered: 03-2015 |
It is for the most part a very mellow and 70's sounding album. My favorite track is the very erotic Yeats adaptation "Crazy Jane on the Day of Judgement". Lyrically, the words that come to mind are wisdom, contentment, time, and survival. The band sounds great together and the production is understated. It will take a couple of weeks for my final opinion, but I like it! | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 101 Registered: 05-2005 |
I was also caught out by Tapete’s description of deluxe vinyl. I was expecting a CD as well as vinyl but what we get is a thick gatefold cover and clear vinyl. Not great vfm for €29.99. Didn’t Yeats use the preferable spelling of judgment? I fear this could be the new I’m Alright for us purists. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 1271 Registered: 08-2004 |
When I made digital recordings of my vinyl collection 15/16 years ago, I was at the mercy of moving floorboards. What with the kids running about and occasional dancing, it made for some unique recordings. I have Inferno. Not sure when I'll give it a full listen. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1276 Registered: 04-2005 |
Bloomin' heck where is my copy ? Not sure how you folks across the Atlantic get a copy before me ? I was sure too that Tapete stated a CD with the vinyl at 29.99€ ? Oh well..I'll console myself wih this little beauty..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXPvQbXi kec | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1537 Registered: 10-2006 |
Cheers, Andrew! | ||
| David Unregistered guest |
Its a slightly unusual listen first few times through. Roberts voice sounds a great deal deeper here, which nothing i'd read had led me to expect. There are a couple of tracks i almost checked for a guest singer, particularly the opener! A grower I expect. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4069 Registered: 03-2005 |
Huh, interesting that Burgers has had the same experience regarding the deluxe package. Maybe Tapete screwed up their shipments or our reading comprehension isn't what we thought. It'll be interesting to find out what you get Andrew. And, yeah! why don't you already have your copy? Another damn war in Belgium?!? I went and purchased a copy of the CD from Amoeba in Hollywood so I can listen to my heart's content. David, the harmonic profile of a voice can be shaped quite a bit by the choice of microphone and also the position of the microphone (above? below? straight in?). Then there's how you manipulate the EQ on the vocal track. My guess is that Van Vugt favors a fuller vocal sound and mikes the singer accordingly. Plus we have to remember whatever changes occur with age. What caught my attention on this record is that Robert honestly does a better job of hitting his target pitches than he has generally done in the past. I'm a huge fan of his little bits of falsetto (on "Crazy Jane" and "No Fame"). I still remember him doing that on a song--can't remember which--in his "Danger in the Past" show at the Powerhouse back in '07. It can be very effective for emphasis. He even holds notes in a few places, especially on "The Morning" and "I'll Look After You" in which he is downright crooning. He's downright "singerly" on some of these songs! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4070 Registered: 03-2005 |
Stuart, does that mean you haven't gotten yours either? | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1538 Registered: 10-2006 |
Well, I just ordered it Friday, so that's only to be expected! I enjoyed Andrew's sharing of The Morning a great deal, a really lovely song, and one that's very easy for me to identify with these days. The whole CD should arrive tomorrow, when I shall be out all day, so Wednesday will be my chance to give it a few spins. Then, if Songs to play is anything to go by, I shall be ordering a bunch more to send out to friends! | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 455 Registered: 05-2005 |
Andrew, my deluxe vinyl copy remains sealed. I only display it in the living room. See it as an investment that performs quite well when you look at the value of former limited Song To Play on Discogs...! | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1539 Registered: 10-2006 |
So, an excuse to listen to STP again today...well, yeah, patchy...like early Mondrian, or sunlight on the forest floor. | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 102 Registered: 05-2005 |
Looking back at Songs to Play, the deluxe version was also €29.99 but included a CD, a sticker and a signed postcard. The standard vinyl version also included a CD. To be fair to Tapete, they didn’t claim Inferno vinyl included a CD or a download code but the term tip-on may have inadvertently misled me and possibly others. Bother deluxe versions were limited to 500 copies but even scarcer if you’re looking for an investment, TROU, is Rough Trade’s silver vinyl edition which is limited to 200. They are selling that for £19.99 which is less than they sell the black vinyl version for. Both are are, I presume, non-gatefold. | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 103 Registered: 05-2005 |
Bother = both | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4072 Registered: 03-2005 |
Trou, you might as well keep yours sealed. Others might have other experiences but my experience has been that anything other than black vinyl has inferior sound. My clear vinyl Inferno has a nice clear music signal--no distortion--but much more background (ticks & pops) noise than any normal fresh black vinyl record will have. I think it's because the cooling speed is different for black vinyl but that's a guess. Most likely, it's just because record manufacturers perfected the process with black and the other colors would need subtle adjustments that only high volume production would identify. The "tip-on" Burgers must be a reference to the diary of Robert's that is included inside the gatefold cover and did not come with the CD copy that I bought the next day. So that's what you're missing Trou. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1540 Registered: 10-2006 |
What's in the diary? | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 104 Registered: 05-2005 |
It’s a folded sheet of A3 with Robert’s recording diary for May and June of 2018 in typewriter typeface. Apparently, tip-on refers to the fact that the lyrics are on paper attached to the heavy gatefold cardboard sleeve. I can’t say I’d heard of it before but Tapete used the same term for the deluxe version of Songs to Play. My copy of that is still sealed but I presume it’s similar. | ||
| Fred Tadrowski Member Username: Ftadrowski Post Number: 91 Registered: 03-2015 |
Robert was on Peter Paphides's show last week on Soho Radio and plays two of the new songs live. They also have a long and interesting conversation. https://www.mixcloud.com/sohoradio/pete- paphides-26022019/ | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1279 Registered: 04-2005 |
Will have to mail Tapete to see where my copy might have got to ! Often we have a problem with delivery as our address doesn't exist in these databases that they all use or on GPS systems. Just to add to what Burgers was saying about the different editions, I'm wondering if Dusty's message of the 23 November was a direct copy/paste from the Tapete site ? It states "...with Tip-On-Cover incl. CD" I had a definite recollection that I was getting the CD with the deluxe edition...just wondering now if Tapete changed their minds about the CD at some moment and changed their site ? Conspiracy theory ?!! | ||
| Kevin Carhart Unregistered guest |
What a pleasure! Favorites... One Bird in the Sky, The Morning, No Fame, Crazy Jane. It seems I don't like a certain kind of thing RF sometimes does, and I have winnowed it down to the ones where he doesn't. If you take the first-person sound, i.e. "I lived in seclusion for a couple of yeeers in a German Farmhouse just drinking beeer," etc. This may be what I am winnowing away from. Could be that these four are the least jokey or that least engage in that Robert voice which is simultaneously grandiose and humorously deflating, such as "He cannot be as good-looking as me (Impossible!)" As well as the tense "Listen jack, don't you know I'm a star..." It's just the slightly more detached four, less being played for humor. Others that are like this, to my ear, let's say since Warm Nights: From Ghost Town, Demon Days, and a huge piece of Songs to Play especially "And I Knew".. "A Poet Walks"...! I love about half of Inferno already, and about half of Songs to Play has ended up in my all-time keepers. I'm sure I'll try the others again but these are my top picks right now. Four of nine is a lot of great songs! I didn't pick the single with the video. I'll try it again later. I adore Warm Nights, every track or almost every track, so maybe I'm selecting the ones that are the most Warm Nights-like somehow. Fun to be able to write this on the boards. Thanks for looking, Kevin | ||
| David Unregistered guest |
Randy, i expect age plays as much of a part in the change of vocal styling as anything. Its an enjoyable album and, as usual, doesn't outstay its welcome. Like others, i find RF albums take their time to sink in. I definitely enjoy his crooning on this one - he's never going to be a pitch perfect singer ( as if that mattered) and look forward to catching him in Glasgow in a few months. Enjoy your posts in general btw. | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 64 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hi Andrew - yes, it was a straightforward cut-and-paste which I lifted from the Tapete website (I think). | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 65 Registered: 05-2005 |
First up, I’ve had a good six or seven listens to the album now, and I think it’s really excellent. The opening four songs (side a) work beautifully together, and are all in turn very engaging and melodic. Side Two, I don’t feel, is quite as strong – but it’s still good. There’s three good-to-great tracks on the b-side in ‘Life has turned a page’, ‘I’ll look after you’ and ‘One bird in the sky’. The only track I don’t particularly like at this point (relatively speaking) is ‘Remain’. I appreciate it’s autobiographical and has integrity in its lyric, but I feel its reference to movie scripts, great works etc a little saturating after similar references in ‘No Fame’ and ‘I’m Gonna Tell It’. Also, the music doesn’t really do it for me on this track. Overall though, I love the LP. I indulged in listening to the three most recent solo albums back-to-back yesterday. Boy, I forgot how good ‘The Evangelist’ is, but they are all beautiful albums. He’s now formed a strong body of work which fits as a great (ongoing) coda to the solo / group works before. Interesting points with regards to lyrics, Kevin. I guess Robert’s vocals are obviously a vital ingredient in his songs simply by the nature of his delivery. He couldn’t get away with Bernard Sumner lyrics for sure. In a nutshell, I really like the sporadic dry humour he uses and the little vocal asides which usually take a while to become apparent. It’s only the very occasional song that I find lyrically unappealing. | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 105 Registered: 05-2005 |
Looks like your conspiracy theory about Tapete is right, Andrew. If you look at the start of the thread below they did say there would be a CD included as Dusty also posted way up on this one. I’m pretty unimpressed with Tapete for not admitting it. It was only 3 months between the album being available to order and it shipping. If it is about keeping the costs down they could have given a download code. The only other vinyl I’ve bought recently without a download code was The Delines’ Scenic Sessions and there was no false advertising there. https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/n ew-robert-forster-go-betweens-lp-inferno -due-march-2019.790599/ | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4076 Registered: 03-2005 |
Cheers, David! I always assume people just skip my overlong entries. Andrew, you're on the down low! I occasionally suffer something like that with my email. Yahoo kept rejecting the National Concert Hall's emails sending me my printable tickets for Microdisney's Dublin show last year and they seem to have done it again for Robert's London show. Unfortunately I can't be in London on May 14 so it's a moot point. Welcome to the board Kevin! The fun part is that we're all going to respond to things differently. I agree with your assessment of Robert's 3 post-Go-Bees albums but have never been able to get into about half of "Warm Nights." I don't mind Robert's humorous songs even if they'll seldom rate among my absolute favorites. For example "Surfing Magazines" will never rate as highly for me as "Spirit." But which do we consider "Spring Rain"? I going to slightly stick my neck out and say that "Spring Rain" is probably found on most fans' lists of Robert's classics. I am amused that on this album Robert has reserved the slot that according to his "Ten Rules of Rock and Roll" is where an album's weakest song goes--the penultimate slot--for what I personally consider Inferno's weakest song: "I'm Gonna Tell It." On the other hand I really like the title song, humor and all. I love the way it invites us to experience a Brisbane summer and perhaps subtly reminds us of climate change. Plus his whining about the heat and wishing for the cold sounds exactly like me during the hot season in Los Angeles. My top favorites so far are "Crazy Jane," "No Fame" and "One Bird in the Sky" in which Robert continues his tradition of strong closing songs. Think of how many of those he's given us over the years. Burgers, I was totally mystified at the absence of a download code. That's why I thought--and I still suspect--that the omission of the CD was a mistake. It might be as absurd as the printer didn't deliver the skinny CD envelopes on time and Tapete decided not to wait. | ||
| Konrad Unregistered guest |
Hi, I asked at Tapete Records about the Deluxe-Editon concerning the missing CD. They sent me a download-link for mp3s and a friendly mail saying, that at first they had offered the edition WITH CD. The person from tapete said that they decided not to include the CD because it is too expensive. Basically I don't care much about the CD, but this left me kind of speechless... | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 106 Registered: 05-2005 |
I also emailed them and got a similar response and a code. MP3s aren’t the best. If you buy the download from Tapete’s Bandcamp page you can choose FLAC or whatever. Tapete say that download codes are rarely redeemed but they have to pay for them. I’m quite suspicious of Tapete now. My code expires in seven days which feels like the kind of sale or return contract they should have if they are rarely redeemed. I get their point about CDs and codes being costly for them but they took orders in November (and maybe later) promising a CD. They’ve subsequently airbrushed their website to make it look like it wasn’t included. Speechless sounds about right.. If you read down the thread I posted a link to they did the same on a Telescopes release. Tapete obviously have a process to deal with people asking “where’s my CD?” which is to send them an inferior download code. Any orders they took before they changed their policy they should have honoured. More conspiracy than cock-up. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1544 Registered: 10-2006 |
There's an interesting interview with Robert in Paste Magazine. Unfortunately I am too smartphone dumb to actually copy the link here, but it should be an easy Google. | ||
| Eugene Unger Member Username: Blureu Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2006 |
Thanks for the tip. Here’s the interview: https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2 019/03/robert-forster-balances-past-and- present-with-new.html | ||
| Alexey Unregistered guest |
Hello everyone. Really happy to be writing my first post here... Have been listening to Inferno for almost a week now, and what a wonderful album it is. Mind you, in my personal list of Robert Forster albums it would probably be somewhere in the middle: The Evangelist Danger in the Past Songs to Play Inferno I Had a New York Girlfriend (was surprised to read in Grant & I that Robert considers this album a mistake) Calling from a Country Phone Warm Nights But I love them all, including Warm Nights (still, what I am supposed to be about the SIX minutes of "Jug of Wine"?!). I agree to the extent that Inferno is a little front-loaded, but equally I've grown to like everything on side 2. Agree with Randy about "I'm Gonna Tell It" being the perfect reflection of one of those Rock and Roll rules. Still, I kind of like that descending "I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna..." hook. For me, it's all about that last song. Made me cry the first time, and I'm not sure how I'm going to take it in Bonn in less than two months. Such melodies are only written a handful of times per decade. The lyrics hit me where they should. Clearly a top ten Forster song. Also, I find it interesting, the parallels with his first LP. Nine songs (a wrong number for Robert, you have to admit), Victor Van Vugt, a reference to a great Irish writer... Christ, I'm probably reading too much into it! A great, great album. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1282 Registered: 04-2005 |
Welcome Alexey !!! Like you I like all of Robert's solo releases and don't understand why "Warm Nights" is not really rated. I remember Robert describing it as his "chooglin'" record on a radio programme. Like Creedence Clearwater Revival. Really looking forward to see him play live in May too. Still no sign of my vinyl copy turning up, but at least got a MP3 download from the record company so can at last listen to the new songs. Sounds great. And quite unexpected ? Quite energetic ?! But yes there's something about "I'm Gonna Tell It" that doesn't quite ring true. Sounds forced ? I love Robert’s voice and his particular way of phrasing his words. For me “Rock’n’Roll Friend” is an absolute pinnacle for that. With another singer (a better singer ?) it just wouldn’t work but those words and his performance is simply wonderful and utterly convincing. I have a vague recollection of someone on the radio playing it when the original version was released...maybe John Peel...and saying that normally all songs with the words “Rock’n’Roll” in the title were to be avoided but this was an exception. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1545 Registered: 10-2006 |
I love that song too, Andrew, the "Street legal" version. Brilliant lyric, wonderful vocal. But I've always rated Warm Nights, though I haven't heard it for a while. Time to dig it out again. Now that Edwyn has a studio up on Scotland's north east coast, wouldn't that maybe be a cool place to record a future RF album? But let's not jump the gun, with Inferno still to mull over. | ||
| Alexey Member Username: Alexey_p Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2019 |
On the subject of Warm Nights... Just wanted to say I absolutely adore "Snake Skin Lady". Such a lovely understated melody, and the organ was a stroke of genius. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1546 Registered: 10-2006 |
Absolutely agree, Alexey. I still don’t know why people detest Jug of wine so much, though – laconic, sardonic and bucolic as it is, with that perky reggaeish rhythm and twitching organ (so to speak) and then the brass coming in. Brass never hurts. I love the lines, “I woke up fully breathing /beneath a blue childhood sky”. Does it refer back to the Spoonful’s title of the same name? (“Memories that are all mine/make me drink this jug of wine.”) A good new album is the perfect time to look back over good old stuff. Thanks, Robert. And if I'm reading the info right, he's even sneaked a solo Rome date in on 24th April! I doubt if I can make it, but, after all my whining, I'll certainly try. | ||
| Gareth... Unregistered guest |
It's been years since I last posted here...Anyways, loving 'Inferno'. The right mix of songs, playing and production. It really brings out the best in him. Can't wait to see him play Bristol in May. If I were to rank his solo albums it would look something like this. The Evangelist Calling From a Country Phone Danger in the Past Inferno ...These 4 are pretty much perfect for me. 'Inferno' could end up as his best... I Had a New York Girlfriend Warm Nights ...Plenty of good tracks on these 2 but some of it feels second tier... Songs to Play ...Just can't warm to 'Songs To Play'. Never really got under my skin in the way his other albums have... | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 456 Registered: 05-2005 |
The concert of the Warm Nights tour was a revelation for me. Perhaps because it was the first I saw after the Go-Betweens split. Best song of this concert was Fortress. I've always rate this album quite high. Still have to listen to Inferno. I'm not in a hurry.. | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 154 Registered: 10-2005 |
Yes, The Fortress was good live. I do like Warm Nights a lot. Not all the instrumental additions work, but the songs and the playing is fine. (But it was sad that Robert/the management did not bring Adele & Glen to London.) I also like Songs To Play a lot. --- There is a bit early to have a firm opinion on the new album for me. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8831 Registered: 05-2005 |
I just read Robert’s Berlin diary that came with the album. What a pleasure to read. I love how he writes about doing his laundry alongside the serious business of being there to record an album. And someone needs to pay him to do restaurant reviews. The comments he makes about the cafes and restaurants he visits are hilarious. | ||
| Auska Lo Unregistered guest |
Hello, long time lurker here (=first post) Just wanted to let you know Robert was recently in Spain and visited rne3's studios where he played a couple of songs: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/disco -grande/disco-grande-robert-forster-como -si-fuera-hombre-del-tiempo-07-03-19/504 1102/ (interview starts at 18') | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 459 Registered: 05-2005 |
Some new european dates in november for a short acoustic tour. At least, I'll see the Maestro. | ||
| Fred Tadrowski Member Username: Ftadrowski Post Number: 95 Registered: 03-2015 |
Below are US dates for the solo Robert Forster concerts: Nov-07 Los Angeles, CA The Echoplex Nov-08 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall Nov-09 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios Nov-11 Evanston, IL Evanston SPACE Nov-12 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel Nov-14 Boston, MA City Winery – Boston Nov-15 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Nov-16 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4134 Registered: 03-2005 |
Fred, where are you finding this stuff? His website--at least the link I just used on THIS site--shows none of these dates. Well, I can check the Echoplex' calendar easily enough. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4135 Registered: 03-2005 |
Ok, there it is on their site. Tickets on sale Friday at 10:00 a.m.. He'll be jet-lagged as usual. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8895 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lovely interview with Robert in the Irish edition of the Sun (don't let that put you off). https://www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/music /4028757/robert-forster-new-album-infern o-irish-gigs/ | ||
| Ric Member Username: Ric Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2019 |
hello poor organisation leaves me with a spare ticket for Manchester if anyone needs one. Not more than face value (can't remember off the top how much it was). cheers, Ric | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8959 Registered: 05-2005 |
There's a new interview with Robert here, but it will probably be behind a paywall. https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews /southeast/former-frontman-of-the-gobetw eens-robert-forster-rides-the-tide-of-cr eativity/news-story/9d3f9be8a9b47943eda8 04e525f00aee | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1578 Registered: 10-2006 |
Readable and read! Always good to hear the man talk. Is there really a European feel to Inferno? Is it possible to hear that it was done in Berlin and STP near Brisbane? What are the indicators? Is it something essentially in the mind of the musician or is it a real phenomenon? | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1579 Registered: 10-2006 |
Anyway, as I've possibly said before,I'd like to see Robert's next solo album recorded up in Clashnarrow with Edwyn Collins producing. I think that would be an interesting dynamic for both of them at this time in their lives. I could listen out for the subtle Moray Firth elements to the recording. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 8970 Registered: 05-2005 |
Live show review https://www.beat.com.au/the-go-betweens- robert-forster-remains-a-crowning-nation al-treasure/ |