"Great Australian Albums" (2007) TV series 2007-????

Director:

Larry Meltzer

Writer:

Toby Creswell (written by)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Cast

Paul Dempsey	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Arnold Frollows	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Sean Sennett	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Bernard Zuel	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)

Runtime:

Australia:52 min (8 Episodes)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Mushroom Pictures

for the fans, mostly

OK so this isn't really a 'movie' - but since they showed it at Oz Film, I am entitled to evaluate it as such. In fact it's a series of hour-long TV docs on, well, great Australian albums, and the two they showed here focused on Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads" and - the draw for me - "16 Lovers Lane" by the Go-Betweens. These pieces really are for fans first - not just in the fawning detail with which they comb over the genesis and evolution of obscure song after obscure song, but in the fact that not once in the whole running time do you ever hear a complete verse-chorus run without the commentary obtruding. That's a serious drag. Interestingly though, I found myself gaining respect and interest for Cave; don't hate me for admitting that I've never really got him, all that drama and dynamics and so little melodic content. And I know, I know, the blues he's referencing aren't about 'melodic content' either, but his idea of soul is pretty Euro, pretty overwrought. However it's impressive seeing him milk the material in performance, especially that Kylie Minogue stuff - wasn't expecting that! The Go-Betweens come off as pretty callow in Cave's wake, especially since the chosen album highlights their final, desperate reach for the brass ring - they look damn awkward trying to pass as pop stars. What they are instead is brilliant songwriters and arrangers and melodists, patently nice people, and good talkers, certainly more forthcoming than I'd expected given all the interpersonal drama they engendered. The film-making is talking head TV doc done well; no enormous revelations but a good deal of intelligence, not much breathing room but enough stylistic interest, particularly when they're stitching together half a dozen varied performances into a seamless whole, a favourite trick.