When 1980s bands reform, the result is usually a dodgy New Romantic revival or a one-hit wonder nostalgia-fest. When Australian band The Go-Betweens reconvened after a decade's absence, however, discerning music fans rejoiced, even though they knew that the songwriting duo of Forster and McLennan had never really gone away.
It was while touring together that Forster and McLennan decided to stop beating around the bush and just call themselves The Go-Betweens again. That formality done with, the duo knocked out a brand new album, The Friends Of Rachel Worth, a late but worthy addition to The Go-Betweens' impeccable canon.
On stage at the Olympia on Thursday, the band was a simple, stripped-down conduit for some of the finest songs of the past 20 years, including Spring Rain, Streets Of Your Town, Draining The Pool For You and Bye Bye Pride.
Songs from the new album were given pride of place - no bad thing given the quality of Spirit, He Lives My Life, German Farmhouse, Orpheus Beach and Going Blind.
Tall, dapper and dandy in his green velvet shirt, Forster commanded centre stage, while the wiry, balding McLennan took the outside flank. Two guitars, bass and drums were all it took to create a simple, sublime musical treat, and it was inevitable that the band would be called back for three encores. They duly delivered with, among others, Bachelor Kisses, Apology Accepted, and a masterly rendition of Forster's solo song Danger In The Past.
