Go-Betweens
The Friends Of Rachel Worth (Jetset)
This may be their first album of new songs in 12 years, but the Go-Betweens sound like they never left. The Friends Of Rachel Worth finds them as always in pure pop mode, spinning melodies that sparkle and singing lyrics that are both enigmatic and sincere. Original members Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, who pursued solo careers thoughout the 1990s, have written some fine tunes in their day, and here make it look as easy as riding a bicycle. The band has undergone some changes, with members of Sleater-Kinney and even Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus assisting, but the pop/folk sound endures intact. As they sing in the jangly opener “Magic In Here,” “I don’t want to change a thing when there’s magic in here.” The world may have not been ready for their brand of rock when the Go-Betweens originated during the 1980s, but now snatches of the Fall, Nick Drake, the Beatles, and Patti Smith when mingled don’t seem so odd. One standout track, “When She Sings About Angels” is even about Smith; the references seem natural while remaining sublimely obscure. “Surfing Magazines” and “Going Blind” are two more examples of the curious world the Go-Betweens occupy, yet despite their obtuse nature, Forster and McLennan lend each a cozy melody and straightforward frame that is appealing and never dense. The time away has served them well, and pop fans should rejoice, as once again the Go-Betweens have created another gem.
This article appears in Rick Perry.