Robert Forster
The Evangelist
EMI


Hailed by artists and fan the world over, The Go-Betweens were an elegant Brisbane act, standing unique amongst the Oz-rock crowd of the Eighties. Though never achieving mass success, the writing partnership of Robert Forster and Grant McLennan was admired all over the world. The sudden death of Grant McLennan in 2006 has returned Forster to a solo career, but ardent fans will know this is actually his fifth solo outing, not including his 2007 compilation 'Intermission'.

'The Evangelist' contains three tunes that McLennan had partially written, and which Forster completes. Of these, Let Your Light In, Babe is the one which breezes along most like McLennan's best work. It reminds me of perhaps my favourite ever song by the pair, Finding You, off their final album together, the wonderful 'Ocean's Apart'.

Perhaps because of the shadow of McLennan's departure, one expects 'The Evangelist' to be a heavier album. And album opener, If It Rains fits this expectation perfectly as a slow-driving three-chord dirge. The title track likewise is a moody monotone plod but the rest of the album is a blissful and beautiful record. The quality of the songs is what sets this record apart; Pandanus and A Place to Hide Away just make so much from simple chords and words, and if it weren't for his track record I'd swear Forster stole Did She Overtake You from The Smiths.

Demon Days, too, while exploring the sombre mood, manages to hold such a sweet dignity. The lyrics are placed perfectly, and never sound as pretentious as Nick Cave sometimes can when labouring ballads.

Forster has a voice that neither dominates nor fails. Everything points to the songs themselves. Album closer, From Ghost Town is a case in point. A simple assured piano progression accompanies Forster's humble rendition, "The secret goes/ with its book and clothes/ from ghost town..."

Understated, restrained and elegant. Forster continues to make great Australian music for grown-ups.

Tim Hein