Cattle and Cane

The Go-Betweens

In a way, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan chose the perfect band name. Both enigmas, they don’t fit easily into categories. Calling them a poor-man’s Lennon/McCartney might feel like a backhanded compliment, but somehow that’s what they were and for many years created magic together. This timeless, first ripping single is from BEFORE HOLLYWOOD which was released in ‘83. The song doesn’t easily fit into a genre — it doesn’t sound like the 70’s or the 80’s. It’s not pop, not rock — not directly post-punk, but perhaps a little of all three. Melancholy lyrics and vocals from Grant with Robert’s spoken word over this driving bass, guitar play with light drums. Beautiful, but the odd time signature also makes it feel unsettling.