Go-Betweens : Bright Yellow Bright Orange : The Age Review

The Go-Betweens : Bright Yellow Bright Orange : Time Off Review

TIME OFF, BRISBANE 26/02/03 - 4/3/03

The Go-Betweens, Bright Yellow Bright Orange
Trifekta/FMR

The follow-up to the 2000 reunion album sees the Go-Betweens pick up where they left off, pursuing the kind of uncluttered, wistful pop sound that permeates their best work. The songs are equally spread between the two core songwriters, but this time Grant McLennan and Robert Forster have produced a more cohesive unit, rather than a combination of two solo albums. The co-sung 'Two Much Of A Good Thing', punchy 'Old Mexico' and sparkling 'Make Her Day' all sport strong blends of their singular talents. Trademark small-town characters rise out of each rich verse and as their stories pile up, so do the catchy riffs and gorgeous, subtle melodies - check out 'Caroline & I', 'Mrs Morgan' and 'In Her Diary'. But, as ever, it's the effervescent choruses that make these songs so memorable, and nothing beats 'Poison In The Walls'.

- Eileen Dick **** stars

Thanks to Trifekta Records for forwarding this article.