Created: 07/19/2005
Video description: The Go-Betweens are the quintessential cult band. Throughout their hugely acclaimed career they have sustained an unparalleled artistic consistency which has year by year elevated them above their contemporaries, many of whom have lapsed in to unfortunate artistic decline whilst the unique songwriting partnership of Forster and McLennan garners more respect and acclaim with each new release. Even Princess Caroline of Monaco and the Premier of Australia have become fans with the latter distributing copies of their latest album in the American Senate! Thanks to a fervent fan base the group is now playing to larger audiences than it ever did in the eighties. Their last release, Bright Yellow Bright Orange, has proven to be one of their biggest sellers to date.
The Go-Betweens were formed in 1978, when Grant McLennan and Robert Forster, two Queensland University students with a passion for films and the US punk scene, met and decided (in Grants words) ?to do The Factory in Brisbane?. Musical instincts prevailed and, encouraged by Robert, Grant took up the bass guitar.
After playing together for no more than four months, the pair went into the studio to record two of Robert?s songs - ?Karen? and ?Lee Remick?. Pressing up 500 copies and distributing it themselves, they nearly ended up with a deal at Beserkley Records (US indie label and then home to Jonathan Richman) but Beserkley ran into financial difficulties. In fact, the Go-Betweens were dogged by label troubles through out their career. Rough Trade who eventually put out their debut LP Send Me a Lullaby in Europe, had to drop the band after their second album due to a lack of finance. Later, both Sire and Elektra who either had the band signed or were in the process of signing them had to let them go when both labels closed their UK offices. But the Go-Betweens always had a phenomenal drive that kept them going- returning again and again to Britain, as strangers and then as undervalued songwriters, in an effort to establish themselves on the world-wide music scene, self-financing singles, supporting the Birthday Party across Australia, recruiting more members as they went (drummer Lindy Morrison, bassist Robert Vickers and, later, violinist/oboist Amanda Brown, whom the band discovered playing a Forster song, ?Draining The Pool for You?, in a coffee bar) and on the last album, bassist John Willsteed.
Their second album, Before Hollywood, was recorded in Eastbourne, autumn 1983 and sounds all the more wonderful for it. Four more albums followed: Spring Hill Fair, recorded in France on a major label budget, the more coherent Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (for which Robert recorded all his vocals in one afternoon, his voice having been out of action for most of the sessions), the bright poppy Tallulah and finally, the more acoustic and reflective 16 Lovers Lane. The heavily played radio single ?Streets Of Your Town? followed, as did a support slot with REM. However, by this point the pressures of being together for twelve years were beginning to have visible effect and both Grant and Robert were pushing in different directions. Finally, the Go-Betweens decided to call it a day. The set up of the band, with two independent singer-songwriters was (and still is) an unusual one, but in this case it worked out perfectly. Robert?s edgy, dark and highly romantic compositions were offset perfectly by Grant?s lighter, more wistfully melodic and lyrically more expansive contributions. It?s hard to say however, what makes them both so special. Unlike a lot of bands the Go-Betweens just made albums of (admittedly highly accomplished) guitar-based pop songs. They didn?t do anything widely unusual or idiosyncratic, but what they did is beautiful and timeless. Maybe it is something to do with the interplay on two perspectives on what must be similar or concurrent events. Maybe its the underlying romanticism of all their records - that they appreciate the fact that love and life are battles but they are battles which must be fought and one should wear ones scars proudly. They also knew how to craft a subtle arrangement around an intelligent lyric and winsome melody. And that should be enough for anyone.
After the split of the Go-Betweens, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan had vibrant solo careers. Both released four solo albums and Grant also released two albums with Steve Kilbey of the Church under the name of Jack Frost and one album with Ian Haig of Powderfinger under the name of F.O.C. Recent projects have included a biography written by David Nichols and published by Allen and Unwin in Australia, a Go-Betweens tribute album, an acclaimed compilation: Bellavista Terrace, and a collection of lost early recordings from 1978-79. Since the split, Grant and Robert have played together on several occasions acoustically including the Beggars Banquet birthday celebrations in Tower Records, in Piccadilly Circus London (August 1994) and most notably with a full band at the Les Inrockuptibles 10th anniversary show in Paris (23rd May 1996) and a run of six full band shows in June 1997, two in Dublin, one in Glasgow, two in London (Forum and Fleadh Festival) and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. As a duo, Robert and Grant toured the world in 1999 to rave reviews, which prompted the pair to consider recording a new album together. Sitting in a Melbourne seaside hotel on the Australian leg of their tour, Forster and McLennan finally agreed to restart The Go-Betweens with a new album.
The Friends Of Rachel Worth (2000) was the result. Ten new songs were recorded in Jackpot Studios in Portland, Oregon. The album was produced by the band with Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney on drums, Adele Pickvance (who has played with both Forster and McLennan in their solo careers) on bass, Sam Coombes (Quasi and Elliot Smith) on keyboards along with Carrie Brownstien and Corin Tucker from Sleater Kinney on guitar and backing vocals. The finished record stood proudly alongside anything in their canon and received unanimously rave reviews.
The Go-Betweens toured the world with great success playing to the largest audiences of their career and culminating in a headline slot at Australia?s Big Day Out, and Robert and Grant were honoured by the Australian Performing Rights Association for writing one of the ten greatest Australian songs of all time with ?Cattle and Cane?. They completed their eighth studio album Bright Yellow Bright Orange in 2003, which was released to huge acclaim. The group toured again, including Japan for the first time and their UK dates were sold out with a rapturous response.
Robert relocated to Brisbane, where Grant is based, and they spent the rest of 2003 and much of 2004 writing. Their work was interrupted only by a short trip to Europe, playing two shows to celebrate the re-release of the albums Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express, Tallulah and 16 Lovers Lane. Vicker Street in Dublin and London?s prestigious Barbican Theatre were both sold out. Whilst in London they met up with Mark Wallis, the producer of 16 Lovers Lane, and agreed to return in November to record their new album with Mark producing again. The album was completed in January 2005 and is entitled Oceans Apart. The release date is May 3, 2005 on Yep Roc Records with US tour dates to follow.
Related Videos
Barry Manilow: "Copacabana"
Barry Manilow's unparalleled career encompasses virtually every arena of music, including performing, composing, arranging, and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has triumphed in every medium of entertainment. Industry charts rank him the undisputed "Number One Adult Contemporary Artist of All Time" with record sales exceeding $65 million worldwide. This pop icon has written hundreds of songs and performed around the globe thrilling millions of fans, winning a Grammy, an Emmy, several Tony Awards, and an Oscar nomination along the way. "Rolling Stone" proclaimed Manilow "The Showman of Our Generation." Over his 30-year multifaceted career, Barry Manilow has proven he is indeed the performer who most embodies that accolade.
Ivy: "Thinking About You"
This hard-driving tune from Ivy makes the crawlies in the forest go crazy. The New York-based pop group, Ivy, came together in 1994 when multi-instrumentalist Andy Chase placed an ad in the Village Voice in an attempt to start a band. Musician/songwriter Adam Schlesinger answered Chase, for the two had mutual musical tastes - both liked Prefab Sprout and The Go-Betweens.
Ror-Shak: "Fate or Faith"
Ror-Shak was formed in 2004 and is fronted by artists DB and Stakka, both of whom have over 20 years experience in the industry. The group's first effort, a dance floor tune called Groupies, was released by Breakbeat Science, and has become quite sought after since going out of print.
Far Cry: Instincts video preview
Xbox version of its acclaimed PC first-person shooter, Far Cry: Instincts
"Stay" trailer
In this psychological thriller, a distraught young man announces to his psychiatrist that he plans to commit suicide in three days. The psychiatrist's desperate attempts to help his new patient lead him through the city on an incredible, nightmarish trip to the place between life and death. From Marc Forster, the director of "Finding Neverland" and "Monster's Ball". Starring Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Ryan Gosling, Bob Hoskins and Janeane Garofalo.
Munk: "The Portofino Mosh"
MUNK are Italian Mathias Modica and German partner Jonas Imbery. They release their own records and also the music of friends like HEADMAN, WHOMADEWHO and TOMBOY on their own little label GOMMA - the label that has achieved a quite good fame for releasing this new sound which mixes the aesthetics of 70ies Disco and Krautrock with modern Electronics and House. In the past Gomma has released the debut albums of avant-garde pop artists like MOCKY, HEADMAN, New York sculpturist THE RAMMELLZEE and NICK MACCARTHY (of Franz Ferdinand) with his former band KAMERAKINO.
In early February the new label compilation was released. GOMMAGANG 3. It includes recent tracks from the above mentioned artists and also new remixes and guest appearances of The Rapture, DJ Chloe, Midnight Mike, Dirt Crew. It was mixed by the MUNK guys and shows the sound of the Gomma label of the past two years and also the DJ style of MUNK.
MUNK have released their critically acclaimed APERITIVO debut album in 2004. The single "Kick Out The Chairs!" still gets played in clubs around the world. The album is one of the first records that preceded the current "Garagedisco" and "Balearic" trend. Including guest vocalists such as their friend JAMES MURPHY of LCD SOUNDSYSTEM/DFA RECORDS, French DJ CHLOE, MIDNIGHT MIKE from London and BOBBY CONN ? the album still sounds fresher than many similar recordings of now.
Since "Aperitivo", the guys have been mostly djing around the world. Their very own hot mix of Minimal house and Leftfield Disco gets appreciated more in more and so they are playing a lot of clubs around the world. From places like The Pulp in Paris, Culture Club in Belgium and Berlin clubs like WMF or FUN to fancy parties like the one of Colette shop in Paris and festivals like Sonar and Melt.
Strange Fruit Project feat. Erykah Badu: "Get Live"
Taken from the Critically Acclaimed Album "The Healing" released on OM Hip-Hop
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists: "Me and Mia"
Ted Leo is a unique artist for these times. He provides a near perfect combination of politics, art, punk values and humor in his songwriting and the combination is resonating with people all over the world. Having toiled for years in the punk underground with both his former band Chisel and his solo effort Ted Leo/Pharmacists, 2004 is definitely the year Ted Leo is primed to break out into the mainstream.
In February 2003, Lookout Records released the critically acclaimed "Hearts Of Oak," a gem of a record that received accolades from Spin, Rolling Stone, Magnet, the New York Times, MTV. Touring and promotion in support of "Hearts" was massive and included 5 US tours, a run in Japan and the UK and an appearance on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." A brief respite from touring was required mid-way through his second US run, when his vocal chords became enflamed due to the rigorous schedule of radio station visits, in store performances and nightly gigs. Ted began a new regimen of vocal warm ups, fewer shows in a row and a dram less Irish Whisky and found his voice to be stronger than ever.
In early 2004, in between some short tours, Ted began to write his fourth solo album. Motivated to keep pushing himself as a songwriter, performer and cultural critic, he shut himself in the basement of his childhood home in New Jersey and began to write. The songs that resulted in "Shake The Sheets" are fresh, smart, and passionate.
Producer Chris Shaw proved to be the perfect partner for Ted and his sonic vision for the album. Well known for his work in producing the last 2 Bob Dylan albums, Shaw has also worked on many other diverse projects, from Dashboard Confessional, to Bell Biv De Voe to the classic Public Enemy album, "It Takes a Nation Of Millions to Hold Us Back." A perfect combination for Ted!
Ted Leo is an artist who is well poised for a career with no limits. He will continue to write pop rock gems and work hard on the road to connect with his fans who continue to grow with him as he connects with more and more people. Do not be surprised if in 25 years you are dusting off your album jackets and along with Joe Jackson, Nick Lowe, Paul Weller you throw on Ted Leo to change your mood for the day.
The Dissociatives: "Young Man Old Man"
The Dissociatives are Daniel Johns and Paul Mac and together they have crafted their critically acclaimed debut album, a unique collision of classic songwriting smarts and adventurous electronic production.
Midlake: "Roscoe"
Midlake's critically acclaimed "Trials of Van Occupanther" is easily in the running for one of 2006's top indie releases. "Roscoe" was the song that started it all.
