Go-Betweens Fans: New Record?

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i havent heard anyone talking about it yet - it's probably my favorite of the post-reunion records, but i'm curious to hear what other G-Bs fans think.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Is it out then?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

pre-releases are floating around the usual outlet, tho the mastering's all screwed up.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:43 (twenty years ago)

"The new Go-Betweens album "Oceans Apart" will be released in the week of 25th April 2005 in Europe, on 29th April in Australia and New Zealand and on 3rd May 2005 in the USA."

Interesting. There was a also bit of chatter about the video here: New Go-Betweens single and video - "Here Comes The City". Opinions?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:50 (twenty years ago)

I posted about the new video for "Here Comes The City" here:

New Go-Betweens single and video - "Here Comes The City". Opinions?

Pretty good tune. I'm encouraged that they're using "Tallulah" producer Mark Wallis instead of relying on themselves.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:51 (twenty years ago)

Ha. Nag beat me to it.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:52 (twenty years ago)

For what it's worth, Robert told me this was the first album they've ever recorded digitally!

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:12 (twenty years ago)

It's funny to think that their post-reunion discography is now 50% as large as the original one, in terms of proper LPs anyway. Which is fine, as there've been no actual embarassments on the first two, but I can't help thinking that something has been missing in terms of achingly great songs. I'm not confident that digital recording or the return of Mr Wallis alone would change that. : )

Also, something about the initial instability and relative anonymity of the rhythm section makes this feel like it's a pretty casual workman-like affair, with fewer of the idiosyncracies of old.

Ha. Nag beat me to it.

Hehe, I risk a reputation for over-eagerness on these recent G-Bs threads.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 00:07 (twenty years ago)

i've definitely felt that way about the last two, but there are aspects of this new one that i really like; the bass player, adele, plays a much greater role vocally on this one, which makes it sound a bit like the late 80s records. i think the songs are a lot stronger. the only thing i still really miss is lindy morrison's fantastic and totally one-of-a-kind drumming.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

Rave review in the Guardian today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,11712,1459837,00.html
I'm going to seek it out this afternoon. I'm a fan of their two reunion albums so far - I like that humbler, stripped down sound.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Friday, 15 April 2005 07:23 (twenty years ago)

I like that humbler, stripped down sound
I didn't read the review, but I had heard that this record was more produced - more 16LL -like....

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 15 April 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

It is also reviewed, in UNCUT!

THE COMEDY OF REMARRIAGE

― the dreamfox, Friday, 15 April 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

I didn't read the review, but I had heard that this record was more produced - more 16LL -like....

Hmmm. The songs are great on 16LL, but the 80s production makes it a difficult album to listen to. I have the demo versions of those songs (a freebie with a French music mag a few years back) and they're much better than the album.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Friday, 15 April 2005 11:32 (twenty years ago)

the record is more produced, though not in an off-putting way. there are lots more keyboards. for me, this is the first time the post-reuinion GBs have actually sounded like a band as opposed to Grant + Robert + Rhythm Section.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Friday, 15 April 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

Yeah. "16 Lovers Lane" never sounded '80s to these ears; in fact, there aren't a whole lot fo albums that sound like it, period. The spacious, airy mix really brings out the baroque touches in the arrangements (love the oboe and violin sound in particular).

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 15 April 2005 15:50 (twenty years ago)

Oh, yeah - I had heard that the "more produced" was a good thing, just to clarify... Not that it sounds like 16LL .. just that it's all instrumenty and less stripped-down.

Very much looking forward to it - but I'll wait for the US release, instead of ordering from UK as usual... Unless there is a bonus disc or something?

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 15 April 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

there is a bonus disc with 5 extra tracks!

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 15 April 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

I just found/ordered it - the bonus disc comes with the US release as well... woo.

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 15 April 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

I have a pre-release, and the mastering is all screwy on it; everything clips -- it's like listening to it on a stereo with blown speakers. you can still get the idea, but i'm anxious to hear it with everything set at their proper levels. i think it will definitely be a winner for anyone who likes the "Liberty Belle"/"Tallulah"/"16LL" trifecta.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Friday, 15 April 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

i saw the single on rage last night and thought it was missing a hook.

― Mil (Mil), Friday, 15 April 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

Robert's poses made up for it though

― kit brash (kit brash), Saturday, 16 April 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

Bless yer cotton socks Robert. You ARE Brisbane.

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Saturday, 16 April 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

The differences in their songwriting really stand out on this. Grant's songs sound like a continuation of his Bright Yellow Bright Orange stuff. Melancholy lyrics sung sweetly, pretty standard stuff. The Statue is pretty great. Robert's songs kind of kill, Darlinghurst Nights and Here Comes A City especially. Also the rhythmic awkwardness of their older stuff is kind of apparent on Born to a Family.

― dan. (dan.), Monday, 2 May 2005 19:25 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

I'm liking this record. "Here Comes a City" sounds enough like the Talking Heads "Life During Wartime" to elicit the comparison (indeed, try singing "this ain't no party" etc. over top of it), but not so much that I don't think it's a good song on its own.

"Boundary Rider" is a nice song too; I love the way it starts out with drums and a creepy synth line, and you think you're going to get something very minor-keyed and Depeche Modey, but then the guitars starts in with a standard-neo-folkie arpeggio thing; psych!

"Darlinghurst Nights" too--fine song.

I got the version that has a quite competent live EP as well. Highly recommended.

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Fantastic album. Clearly their best reunion album and on my short list for the best of the year.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Great album...lovely songs.

― van der who (van smack), Friday, 14 October 2005 03:36 (twenty years ago)

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