Robert Forster
(Yep Roc)
Robert Forster always has had a voice capable of such mournful regret and fatalistically romantic longing – like John Cale – that it’s probably not true that the death of Go-Between band mate Grant McLennan pushed him further into such territory. But on The Evangelist, his first album since the latter’s 2006 death, he uses that poetically expressive voice, and the worldview contained within, to make his ten new songs all the more memorable.
Not that these are gloomy. “Let Your Light In, Babe” and “Did She Overtake You” have the kind of major-to-minor key chord changes and rock ‘n’ roll tension that the Go-Betweens, like their idols the Velvet Underground, always excelled at. But there’s no denying the sadness of the glorious opening ballad, “If It Rains.” Of special note on the album are the penetrating string quartet arrangements by Audrey Riley. In reality, this represents a Go-Betweens continuation: McLennan contributed partial lyrics to several songs, and Adele Pickvance and Glenn Thompson accompany Forster. Keep on going.
Standout Tracks: “If It Rains,” “Demon Days” STEVEN ROSEN
