The Goon Sax - We're Not Talking

Back in the late Sixties the Velvet Underground let their drummer, (the diminutive Mo Tucker), sing a couple of songs, After Hours and I'm Sticking With You. They were lullabies for the cool set and wittingly or otherwise they established a whole Rock and Roll sub-genre of which Brisbane Australia's Goon Sax second album We're Not Talking is just the latest marvellous example

The Goon Sax are three young people struggling with the concept and actual experience of living through and documenting their late teenage years. They take these two Velvet Underground songs, the early Jonathan Richman sensibility and the awkward but equally knowing presence of The Go-Betweens Robert Forster, (father of Louis, one of their number), and mix it all up with their own gawky, hormonal concerns to come out with  a small but perfectly formed classic. Twelve songs too. Like so many of the very best records, going back to my first great musical love, R.E.M.'s Murmur.

All three of the band James Harrison, Louis and Riley Jones sing and their instruments, guitar, drum , bass and other assorted instruments harmonise. Sometimes, the band are happy, sometimes sad, sometimes confused but you know they'll actually be OK because they're whip smart even if they don't want to let on that they are. Louis is the only one who's actually related to a member of the band but they've all inherited the early Go-Betweens genes, And that's a wonderful thing. And this is a wonderful record. Destined to go Top 10. At least in my end of the year album list!