goldstein
Reviewed by Ross Collin
Published 7 July 2010
lp: bin night
Australian folk act Goldstein’s (pronounced Gold-Steen) third long-player Bin Night (2010) sees the four-piece treading the same ground as their previous releases Out To Sea (2007) and Spurs On My Boots (2006).
AC/DC have enjoyed a long career and maintained a massive fanbase by not deviating from their signature sound for love nor money. Bob Dylan has continually evolved his sound and style often alienating fans, but creating an outstanding artistic legacy which would have been impossible by sticking with the tried and true.
In this context Goldstein’s philosophy (not sound!) appears closer to the AC/DC model. There is however something commendable about the band’s confidence in their own sound, which for the uninitiated is based around Adam Hooper’s storytelling vocals backed by his own simple acoustic guitar, Robin Pratt’s sympathetic bass, Jeremy Owen’s thoughtful and clever drums and standout musician Ben Hooper’s violin. A special mention needs to be made of the violin playing. Incredibly skilled but devoid of pretence Hooper continually hits the mark at the emotional core of each song. He is both an object lesson and a warning to those groups on the “rent a string player” bandwagon, that adding violin to a song only works if it is integral and not an overdubbed afterthought.
The album faithfully reproduces the band’s uncluttered live sound. If you like them live you will like the CD and vice versa. A few added layers of accordion, acoustic guitar and mandolin add some depth to the recording, which is beneficial rather than obtrusive.
For me the standout song is 'Fishing With Bruno' with its intriguing storyline, killer chorus and instrumentation which has the band at their most interesting and challenging.
'Stockings In Summer' deserves points for tackling the uncomfortable subjects of old age and dementia with equal parts humour and sensitivity.
Another highlight is 'Gael In your Bones' about a trip to Ireland looking for some branches of the family tree. The song’s lilting rhythm and jaunty Irish themed instrumental outro are obvious examples of the band’s musical confidence.
The CD artwork although being a little grey and uninviting does have some nice liner notes giving introduction to the lyrical themes of each song – which are all Goldstein staples – family, houses, neighbours, pets and travel – or as they describe it “the people and places we know”. Adam Hooper is a master of telling stories with regular and even mundane subject matter, but he has a deftness in unearthing deep levels of sentiment and emotion, turning the songs into something personal and special.
If you like this CD, make sure you buy the band’s first two releases. Featuring the same sound as Bin Night and arguably stronger collections of songs they are essential for completing your Goldstein collection.
