Robert Forster, the frontman of the Go-Betweens and author of Songwriters on the Run, has long been celebrated for his musical and critical writing. His memoir Grant & I and his music criticism for the Monthly showcased his talent. However, his first foray into fiction at age 68 misses the mark.
A Caper Set in 1991
The novel follows Mick Woods and Drew Lovelock, two long-haired musicians in their 30s who have achieved critical acclaim with their folk-rock sound. Their fortunes take a turn when police catch them with marijuana and charge them with credit card fraud and driving a stolen car. After a brief stint in a correctional facility, they escape with help from oddly cooperative inmates and go on the run.
Plot and Prose
The story unfolds in oddly named sections like "Chapter 1, Days Before" and "Chapter 3, Days After." Mick and Drew head to Melbourne to find their elusive manager, Bingo, whom they suspect is behind their troubles. Meanwhile, a US agent from Warner Bros. Publishing tries to identify two singer-songwriters on a blank cassette tape. The narrative includes expected elements: impromptu gigs, drugs, love at first sight, and reflections on the protagonists' brilliance.
The writing is tongue-in-cheek but lacks the comic odyssey or crime thriller promised in Paul Kelly's blurb. The prose has little melody or rhythm, and the dialogue is plodding and expository. Lines like "Be universal, not personal" feel AI-generated, and there are cringe-worthy sentences such as "Her prominent feature is a long straight nose, dividing her face into two attractive sides."
Moments of Engagement
Forster excels in capturing Australian scenes, like the "whippet-thing, track-suited desperados" in 1980s St Kilda. Descriptions of small-town Queensland waking up like a flower blooming and dying in thirty seconds are vivid but too rare. These moments of imagery and sense of place are highlights, but they cannot sustain the novel.
Music References
For audiophiles, there are numerous nods to music history, though some feel forced. For example, when Mick and Drew are taken to Capricorn Correctional Facility, Drew asks if it's abbreviated as CCF, not CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival). Despite the weak story, Forster's deep knowledge and love of music shine through, enriching the reading experience.
Songwriters on the Run by Robert Forster is published by Penguin Australia ($34.99).
