In the second of our exclusive interviews with Brisbane's wonderful GO-BETWEENS, TIM PEACOCK speaks to ROBERT FORSTER about the vagaries of fashion, the way records suggest specific cities to him and why our present day popstars ought to aspire to far more exciting ideals...
The Go-Betweens have just released their magnificent "Bright Yellow, Bright Orange" album, but Robert Forster's the proud father of very young children and currently his priorities include ensuring they aren't disturbed by intrusive journalists, so although he's the absolute soul of politeness and bonhomie, he's obviously conscious of the kids and barely speaks above a whisper during our conversation. Doesn't stop him giving a terrific interview, though, so let's start with the new album's title - I see the customary ' double L' is back after mysteriously disappearing for "The Friends Of Rachel Worth"?
"Well, normally we don't think all that hard about titles," says Robert evenly.
"If we think of titles other than those with two L's we'd still go with them. I mean, it's not a superstition or anything, really. It's just a question of what feels right at the time," he finishes, mildly surprised that someone should ponder this point.
Meanwhile, in my interview with Grant, he suggested that "Too Much Of One Thing" from the new album was the first time you've truly collaborated on a song. Was it planned for one thing and also tell me about the line: "In my life, nothing is planned." Is that true of Robert Forster?
"It is the first time we've truly collaborated, yes," confirms Robert, "at least on a song that's made an album. Grant wrote the melody and it wouldn't leave my head, so I grabbed it and started work on the lyrics. It worked really well, too."
"As for the line you mentioned, no it's not autobiographical at all. The song's true about the person characterised in the song, but that's all it is - a characterisation."
Without wanting to keep challenging you about song lyrics, there's that great line about being "trapped within an image" in "Something For Myself". Does it worry you that people sometimes have a pre-ordained idea of what The Go-Betweens are about? You're nearly always perceived as literary/ erudite, aren't you?
"I know," Robert agrees.
"It does annoy me at times. I do contemplate making an album that's entirely unlike The Go-Betweens as everyone seems to know us, but maybe that's a dream. It really is a tempatation at times, though."
"Having said that," he muses, "most of the time I'm just happy to still be perceived at all. I'm still delighted that people like what we do, even if that does sound banal. I think rock has improved over the past few years, thankfully, even before the likes of The Strokes came along."
How do you mean?
"Well, I started to feel more comfortable in the musical environment when I noticed people were beginning to appreciate the likes of Lee Hazlewood and Serge Gainsbourg again. Certainly something better seemed to be coming round, and that seems to be true."
A little while earlier, I asked Grant what his favourite Go-B's album was and I can't resist this tempation with you, either. So what about it, Robert?
"I think definitely "Before Hollywood," says Robert, without a moment's hesitation.
"I mean, with an album like "Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express" you've got great songs, but also things like "Bow Down", which is a good song but could have been a thousand times better, you know what I mean?"
Of course, one of the things I've always loved about the protagonists in your songs is that they're often perceived as stars/ heroes, even when they're sometimes gazing at the stars from the gutter. Songs like "Twin Layers Of Lightning" or "Cryin' Love" spring to mind, but continuing with this line of thinking, do you think our pop "stars" these days don't do enough to ACT like stars?
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"I agree with you to an extent," says Robert, toying with the question.
"I personally always saw pop stardom as magical. You were expected to look and act a certain way. I mean, people like Ray Davies..or even more, someone like David Bowie - they were monstrous people, absolutely fantastic."
Robert delivers this line with total passion and conviction and drily adds an excellent afterthought.
"I always hoped that if my turn came around that's the sort of thing I should aspire to."
Well certainly The Go-Betweens still usually lead the field in the songwriting stakes, but I wonder: does Robert's apparently confident public persona ever suffer crises of confidence in private?
"Not when I'm writing a song," Robert considers.
"Then it's the exact opposite. When I write a good song, I'm full of happiness and power. But I do suffer from crises of confidence at other times. Actually, I've had to learn to deal with them and I've learnt that there will be times when nothing's going on in your brain, so you've got to just keep moving and ride it out."
Until you grasp the power again?
"Exactly. If you can relax and ride it out you'll turn the corner much quicker."
Meanwhile, returning to the public's perception of you, how are you viewed in Australia these days? You were always seen as something of a spindly indie oddity in the early days, weren't you? Are you homecoming heroes, finally?
"Oh God, no, anything but. We're still seen as an oddity," replies Robert, aghast at the notion.
"You see, you have to understand that down here it's ROCK'N'ROLL in big bold capitals. Even the indiest of indie bands who might sound like Belle & Sebastian look like AC/DC, you know what I mean?"
Yeah, I reckon I do.
"Mmm, well that whole thing about having to look tough has never left Australia," sighs Robert, obviously well resigned to the situation.
Before we sign off, though, let's stick with geographically-related issues. I read recently in another interview that you always wanted to make a 'New York' album, as both you and Grant were always influenced by the scene that spawned first The Velvets and later the likes of Talking Heads and Television. Will you make this a reality, do you think?
"Yeah, it could happen some time in the future," says Robert, excited at the prospect.
"But, y'know, most great albums throw up the setting of a particular city for me. New York does have a very strong pull, and Grant and I have loved so many things that have come out of there."
"Somehow I think it would end up a folk-rock album if it came to pass," he finishes.
"But then I also get strong feelings to make a San Francisco album or a Rome album, and definitely a Paris album!"
Here's hoping they realise them all....
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