Robert Forster

The last album by the great Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster, released in 2023, reflected a personal and family drama. His wife and mother of his children had been diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer - the shock and sorrow could be heard in many of the deeply moving lyrics. Despite all the heaviness, the record ultimately proved to be "a hope-giving infusion of courage to face life, characterized by a great sense of family" - and a great late solo work by the former mastermind of The Go-Betweens anyway.

Strawberries is also the name of the new album, and although it is different (even thematically), it is not a bit weaker than its predecessor. On the contrary: perhaps this record, consisting of just eight songs, will one day be considered Robert Forster's magnum opus and his best solo work alongside The Evangelist (2008), the touching tribute to his friend and long-time band colleague Grant McLennan, who had died shortly before.