Goldstein
Spurs On My Boots
Independent



A collection of 11 tracks running for just on 33 minutes, this concise debut album from Adelaide's "new urban folkers" Goldstein, was recorded live in a backyard yet manages to achieve a fairly sharp and crisp production. Goldstein features brothers Ben (violin) and Adam (songwriter, vox, guitar and accordion) Hooper teaming with Robin Pratt (bass) and Jeremy Owen (drums/vox), singing songs that focus on typical Australian urban activities, with a musical backing that crosses folk, Irish and at times country, all mostly upbeat mind, and thankfully without any nasally vocal twang.

The opening track Great Fishing is bound to strike a chord with those who enjoy not only the camaraderie found in, but also dangling a line from, a tinny; the violin and guitar are pleasantly flowing, quite unlike our rivers at present but the idea is there.

Other obvious personal influences and experiences are on display. Hands up those who've put on daytime TV and watched the generally questionable movies? Bad Movies will strike a chord with you. Been to a country music show? Anyone? Anywhere? If not, the country/Irish twang of Spurs On My Boots provides a pretty good description of what happens.

There's even a song about the band's favourite pub on (the Daniel O'Connell) with "I'll buy you tea tonight/ I'll order schnitzel if you have the pie...wash it down with Guinness and wine", on Guinness And Wine - clever and witty observations from their local. The only track that sort of dudded was Goldstein, a narrative from the book '1984', which features some pathos laden violin playing but seemed out of place.

With the greatest respect to the band, they are not singing urban folk songs - Adam Hooper and team are singing Australian folk. If you ignore the forgettable Goldstein, all the activities, reflections and experiences mentioned on this release can be found anywhere, anytime in this big brown land. So no matter where you live you are bound to find something in this interesting release that you'll relate to.

Mark Liebelt