That Striped Sunlight Sound

This curiosity piece is perhaps an essential document for fans of Australia's Go-Betweens. That Striped Sunlight Sound (a feeling Mssrs. Forster and McLennan have used in print to describe the band's sound) consists first of a DVD containing two different films of shows done at the Tivoli Theatre in the band's hometown of Brisbane in August of 2005. The first gig places Robert Forster and Grant McLennan up close and personal playing acoustic versions of "Black Mule" and "Clouds." The band enters on "Boundary Rider," and the magic truly begins. Carrying on through "Born to a Family" and "Streets of Your Town," the Go-Betweens are a band that sounds on-stage just a little more immediate than in the studio, which is a compliment. Other tracks include "Here Comes a City," "The Devil's Eye," "People Say," and "Karen," among others. The performance is inspired, loose, and lively. There is also a CD component to the package that carries the entire 70-minute show. The other gig on the DVD is a special "songwriter's session," held on Sunday, August 7. This film is quite wonderful in that it features Forster and McLennan playing acoustically and commenting on the process of songwriting, the songs themselves, and the Go-Betweens' history. In many ways this is the real gem in the package. It includes versions of "Lee Remick," "Cattle and Cane," "Head Full of Steam," "Bachelor Kisses," "Dive for Your Memory," and five other cuts. The intimate charm of this film is irresistible in that the pair are home, relaxed, and wide open. There are no pretensions on display here, just an honest look at what makes Forster and McLennan tick as a pair and as individual writers. This is a fine addition to the Go-Betweens' catalog.