Acclaimed Australian singer – songwriter Robert Forster shares new single ‘Tender Years’, a track lifted from his forthcoming album The Candle And The Flame which is set for release on February 3.
The Candle And The Flame started taking shape in 2021. Forster had a batch of songs written over a period of three years which he knew would be the basis of his next album. The songs felt strong, like they belonged together. They surprised him, too. They had different things to say, more openly personal about those closest to him.
One of those songs was ‘Tender Years’. A song Robert has written about Karin Bäumler, his wife and sometimes musical partner of 32 years and counting.
‘Tender Years’ could be one of the greatest love songs Robert has written in a career that now stretches across nine studio albums with The Go-Betweens and eight solo albums. It is rare to hear a love song expressed with such clarity and deep emotional resonance, rarer still to hear one set to such a deliciously funky groove. “I’m in a story with her/I know I can’t live without her,” Robert sings, as a rhythmic drum and bass line drive the song on. The story is that of Karin and Robert but like so many songs with an enduring power, the personal feels universal too.
Fans will be able to hear ‘Tender Years’, first single ‘She’s a Fighter’ and other, yet to be released songs from the ‘The Candle And The Flame’ when Robert hits the road for a string of national tour dates in May 2023.
The Candle And The Flame consists of 9 songs written by Robert. Produced by Robert, Karin Bäumler (Baby You Know) and Louis Forster (The Goon Sax), the album was mixed by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey) and features former Go-Betweens and Warm Nights bass player Adele Pickvance as well as Scott Bromiley and Luke McDonald (The John Steele Singers), who worked on Robert’s Inferno and Songs To Play albums.
“The recording sessions for the album were done sporadically over six months. Sometimes just one or two days a month. As that was all Karin’s strength and condition allowed her to do. So we had to record ‘live’, catching magical moments and going for ‘feel’. And that became the sound of the album.” says Robert.
Robert Forster has also announced shows in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria for March 2023. He is currently writing a novel and preparing the release of Volume 3 of The Go-Betweens Boxset series, ‘G Stands For Go-Betweens.’
ROBERT FORSTER – ‘THE CANDLE AND THE FLAME AUSTRALIAN TOUR’ – MAY 2023
Friday May 12 – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide
Saturday May 13 – Venue: Freo Social, Fremantle
Thursday May 18 – Venue: Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Friday May 19 – Venue: Brunswick Ballroom, Brunswick
Saturday May 20 – Venue: Memo Music Hall, St Kilda
Sunday May 21 – Venue: Archies Creek Hotel, Archies Creek
Friday May 26 – Venue: Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Saturday May 27 – Venue: Factory Theatre, Sydney
Sunday May 28 – Venue: Lizottes, Newcastle