Thoughtful, intimate wistfulness
Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens has released his eighth solo album, The Candle and the Flame, but it’s not necessarily solo in its composition. Aiding in his performance are former bandmate Adele Pickvance; his children, Louis and Loretta, and wife, Karin Baumler–making it not only a throwback to Forster’s musical style during the height of the Go-Betweens in the 1980s, but a tender look into his family and over 40 years out from his debut. Fans of his moody vocals in his prime Go-Betweens era will recognize that Forster’s style is, thankfully, nearly identical to his past works, evidently surviving the passage of time.
The Candle and the Flame’s first track, “She’s a Fighter,” was written about Baumler, who can occasionally be heard on the xylophone and in backup vocals throughout the album. The song is, unsurprisingly, a product of the pandemic and its after effects on his family; it is fast-paced but filled with a raw energy that can only be attributed to a sense of wistfulness. Adding his family members to the performance not only conveys a sense of their unity, but an acknowledgement of where time has taken them, whether it be about Baumler’s health or their childrens’ venture into the music industry. “She’s a Fighter” is followed up by “Tender Years,” also a thoughtful tribute to Baumler, evident from its lyrics: “I see her through the ages / She’s a book of a thousand pages,” later fading out with Forster’s vocals repeating “See how far we’ve come.” Once again, the track is succinct, but filled with moving, meaningful parts, tied together by a guitar solo and Forster’s reflective voice.
Forster, who is from Brisbane, Australia, has often alluded to his own wanderlust and ideas gained from observing and experiencing the alternative music scenes in Europe and the United States. In the track “The Roads,” a quaint guitar melody backs Forster, who remarks in almost a monologue: “The colors of the country are green and brown and red” and “We know the roads / And where they go / They disappear.” In that same vein, “I Don’t Do Drugs, I Do Time” reminisces on Forster’s past–“I’m walking to school in ‘69 / The next day I’m 35.” In addition to this, a small allusion to his travels appears in the form of “And one day we’re all going to Fez / In a train on express / That comes slowly from Marrakesh.”
The most upbeat songs on The Candle and the Flame are perhaps “It’s Only Poison” and “Always,” which notably lack the emotional undertones of the musical accompaniment. In these tracks, all other parts prioritize Forster’s vocals, repeating a simple melody that forces a focus onto the lyrics, which are clearly-spoken and, again, filled with meaning. Said lyrics are less of a positive and upbeat affirmation and more of a reiteration of Forster’s personal thoughts. In “Always,” he reflects on the moon and the stars, prefacing it with “I’ve been thinking about you always,” and in “It’s Only Poison,” he states that “The body is a temple / The mind is a box.”
The final tracks of the album are even more of a tender proclamation, with “There’s A Reason to Live” calmly but firmly repeating that “there is a reason.” In the final track, “When I Was A Young Man,” the track is exactly what its title implies–Forster reflecting on his youth, likely his time before and during his tenure with the Go-Betweens. Similar to “The Roads,” a harmonized guitar melody is the only thing backing Forster’s vocals, making for a moving solo reflecting on a long life full of multitudes. Even though Forster matches the harmonies with his singing voice, lyrics like “I didn’t go far I followed the sun / Making it brighter for everyone” are conveyed almost as if they are spoken in a quiet and intimate setting rather than a full album.
All in all, The Candle and the Flame is not a new idea in Forster’s emotional and slightly mournful repertoire. With his experiences and family by his side, he employs what he knows, musically and personally, to create an album not unlike a personal diary entry.
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