| The Candle and the Flame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 February 2023 | |||
| Studio | Alchemix Studios, Brisbane | |||
| Genre | Folk-pop | |||
| Length | 37:03 | |||
| Label | Tapete | |||
| Robert Forster chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Candle and the Flame is the eighth solo album by Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster, released by Tapete Records on 3 February 2023. [1] It reached number 32 in the German charts. [2]
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Forster's wife, Karin Bäumler, was diagnosed the stage four inoperable ovarian cancer. While Baumler was undergoing chemotherapy treatment, Forster's mother died at the age of 94. Forster said, "I take solace from the fact she lived a long, happy life. My father died at 87. These are the kind of ages Karin and I are reaching for." [3]
Although many of the lyrics could appear to relate to Bäumler's illness, only one, "She's a Fighter", was written after the diagnosis. Forster said, "Karin talked of fighting for her health and a path through chemotherapy to recovery. The phrase came to me, and I knew immediately that it would work with my new melody. I needed just one other line for the lyric: 'Fighting for good'. The song was finished. I had written my first two-line song. I had just out-Ramoned the Ramones!" [4] Elsewhere, he declared it, "The best six words I have ever written." [5] Bäumler, a violinist, played xylophone on the track as it was the only instrument she felt strong enough to play. "Music was a refuge. It was like taking an amnesia tablet." she said. [3] They were joined on the recording by their children, Loretta and Louis Forster (a former member of the Goon Sax).
Others to appear on the album included Adele Pickvance, a former member of the Go-Betweens, and Luke McDonald and Scott Bromiley of the John Steel Singers. With Bäumler unable to play her usual instrument, her violin teacher, Christine Dunaway, filled her role. [5]
According to the review aggregator Metacritic , The Candle and the Flame received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 from 8 critic scores. [1]
The Guardian wrote, "The shadow of mortality hangs over The Candle and the Flame. It is startling in its intimacy and quiet power. But it is ultimately life-affirming. It's not very rock'n'roll. It's a lot more interesting and enduring than that." [6] Pitchfork wrote, "Forster has recorded a hangout album—with the people he actually hangs out with. The songs sound as fresh as morning air through open kitchen windows. it stands out because simpatico players have kicked around and toughened up the fuller, thicker-bodied ruminations." [7]
Uncut called the album a "freewheeling folk-pop wonder", noting Forster was "jettisoning ornamentation in pursuit of the raw fundaments". [8]
All songs written by Robert Forster.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "She's a Fighter" | 2:13 |
| 2. | "Tender Years" | 5:28 |
| 3. | "It's Only Poison" | 4:35 |
| 4. | "The Roads" | 5:05 |
| 5. | "I Don't Do Drugs I Do Time" | 4:47 |
| 6. | "Always" | 4:06 |
| 7. | "There's a Reason to Live" | 2:35 |
| 8. | "Go Free" | 3:23 |
| 9. | "When I Was a Young Man" | 4:51 |
| Total length: | 37:03 | |
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [2] | 32 |
The Go-Betweens were an Australian indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1977. The band was co-founded and led by singer-songwriters and guitarists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, who were its only constant members throughout its existence. Drummer Lindy Morrison joined the band in 1980, and its lineup would later expand to include bass guitarist Robert Vickers and multi-instrumentalist Amanda Brown. Vickers was replaced by John Willsteed in 1987, and the quintet lineup remained in place until the band split two years later. Forster and McLennan reformed the band in 2000 with a new lineup that did not include any previous personnel aside from them. McLennan died on 6 May 2006 of a heart attack and the Go-Betweens disbanded again. In 2010, a toll bridge in their native Brisbane was renamed the Go Between Bridge after them.
Oceans Apart is the ninth and final studio album by The Go-Betweens, released in 2005. All the songs were written by Grant McLennan and Robert Forster. The album was recorded at the Good Luck Studios in London between November 2004 through to January 2005—except for "Boundary Rider", which was recorded at The White Room Recording Studio in Brisbane.
Red Dirt Girl is the nineteenth studio album by American country artist Emmylou Harris, released on September 12, 2000 by Nonesuch Records. The album was a significant departure for Harris, as eleven of the twelve tracks were written or co-written by her. At the time, she was best known for covering other songwriters' work. Prior to this album, only two of Harris' LPs had more than two of her own compositions. Her next album, Stumble into Grace, was also written by Harris. The album contains "Bang the Drum Slowly", a song Guy Clark helped Harris write as an elegy for her father. The album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard country album charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2001.
Grant William McLennan was an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter-guitarist. He co-founded the Go-Betweens with Robert Forster in Brisbane in 1977 and issued four solo albums: Watershed (1991), Fireboy (1992), Horsebreaker Star (1994) and In Your Bright Ray (1997). He collaborated with other artists on side projects. In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association called his "Cattle and Cane" (1983) one of its top 30 Australian songs of all time.
The Friends of Rachel Worth is the seventh album by Brisbane indie band The Go-Betweens, released in 2000, 12 years after their sixth, 16 Lovers Lane. For this album, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan were joined by all members of American indie rock bands Sleater-Kinney and Quasi as well as new bassist Adele Pickvance. The album was recorded in Portland, Oregon at Jackpot! Recording Studio by Larry Crane.
Worlds Apart is a 7" vinyl EP by the Australian indie group The Go-Betweens, released on 7 November 2005 on LO-MAX Records in the UK only. It contains a collaboration with Sushil K. Dade, "The City of Lights", which was included on his 2006 album, Secrets of the Clockhouse. "The City of Lights" was recorded in Glasgow in 2005 with Dade producing. "Finding You", "Ashes on the Lawn" and "Crystal Shacks" were recorded during the Oceans Apart sessions at the Good Luck Studios in London between November 2004 and January 2005. "Sleeping Giant", however, was recorded in Brisbane in 2004.
Robert Derwent Garth Forster is an Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist and music critic. In December 1977 he co-founded an indie rock group, The Go-Betweens, with fellow musician Grant McLennan. In 1980, Lindy Morrison joined the group on drums and backing vocals, and by 1981 Forster and Morrison were also lovers. In 1988, "Streets of Your Town", co-written by McLennan and Forster, became the band's highest-charting hit in both Australia and the United Kingdom. The follow-up single, "Was There Anything I Could Do?", was a number-16 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States. In December 1989, after recording six albums, The Go-Betweens disbanded. Forster and Morrison had separated as a couple earlier, and Forster began his solo music career from 1990.
Wanna Be Your Joe is the ninth studio album released from country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Released on July 17, 2006 on New Door Records and UMe, it was Cyrus' first country album since 2000's Southern Rain. It is also his first album of non-gospel music in three years. From Billy Ray's exposure on Hannah Montana, the album debuted and peaked at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart, number 113 on the Billboard 200 and number 118 on the Billboard Top Comprehensive Albums. The album sold well, but no hit single was released. The title track and "I Want My Mullet Back" were released as singles, but both failed to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
"Hello Darlin'" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Conway Twitty. It was released in March 1970 as the first single and title track from the album Hello Darlin. The song was Twitty's fourth No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart. The song spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that summer, and was named the No. 1 song of 1970. Aside from being Twitty's standard concert opener, the song became a country standard as well as his signature song. When performing with Loretta Lynn, Twitty would frequently sing the song directly to Loretta. Twitty's recording was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bright Yellow Bright Orange is the eighth album by Australian indie rock group The Go-Betweens, released in February 2003 on the Trifekta Records label. It was nominated at the 2003 ARIA Music Awards for Best Adult Contemporary Album, but lost to John Farnham for The Last Time.
Danger in the Past is the debut solo album by Robert Forster, formerly of the Go-Betweens. It was recorded in Germany, where Forster was soon to live.
Loretta Lynn Writes 'Em and Sings 'Em is a compilation album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on June 8, 1970, by Decca Records. The album is composed of five previously released recordings and six new recordings.
The Evangelist is the fifth solo album by Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster, released by YepRoc in 2008.
Glenn Thompson is an Australian musician who first came to prominence in Brisbane, Queensland, playing in the popular local bands Madam Bones Brothel with Pearly Black and John Rodgers, and COW with Robert Moore and David McCormack. Thompson played drums with Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens on his second solo album Calling from a Country Phone in 1993. He then toured Europe in 1994 with Forster and members of German band Baby You Know, Robert Pöschl and Michael Schott. For Robert Forster's world tour of 1996, Thompson was joined by Adele Pickvance on bass. Thompson and Pickvance were called Warm Nights after Forster's fourth solo release which was also titled Warm Nights.
"Finding You" is a song by Australian indie group The Go-Betweens that was released as the second single from their ninth studio album Oceans Apart. It was released as a promotional CD single on the LO-MAX Records label in the United Kingdom in July 2005 and by Tuition Records in Germany on 25 July 2015.
"Caroline and I" is a song by the Australian indie rock band The Go-Betweens that was released as the lead single from their eighth studio album Bright Yellow Bright Orange. It was released as a promotional CD single on the Circus Records label in the United Kingdom in February 2003 and by Trifekta Records in Australia on 9 June 2003.
"Going Blind" is a song by the Australian indie rock band The Go-Betweens that was released as the lead single from their seventh album The Friends of Rachel Worth. It was released as a CD single by W. Minc Records in Australia, on the Circus Records label in the United Kingdom and Jetset Records in the United States in September 2000. "Going Blind" was The Go-Betweens' first single since "Love Goes On" in 1989.
Songs to Play is the sixth solo album by Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster, released by Universal Music Australia in 2015. It peaked in the lower reaches of the German and Austrian charts. It was nominated at the 2016 ARIA Music Awards for Best Adult Contemporary Album, but lost to Bernard Fanning for Civil Dusk.
Inferno is the seventh solo album by Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster, released by Tapete Records in 2019. It reached number 17 in the German charts and 24 in Scotland.
Still Woman Enough is the forty-sixth and final solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on March 19, 2021, by Legacy Recordings. The album was produced by Lynn's daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The album shares its title with Lynn's 2002 autobiography.
