Out of Sight

本作をリリースするCHAPTER MUSICの運営、BILL CALLAHAN、JOANNA NEWSOM、JENS LEKMAN、VASHTI BUNYANと強豪達との共演や共作とオーストラリアを舞台にインディ司令塔として大活躍するGUY BLACKMAN。自身も2008年にソロ作『ADULT BABY』を発表し独自のバロック・ポップを追求した内容で高評価を獲得。それから17年、待望過ぎる新作『OUT OF SIGHT』を伴ってシーン前線に帰還!

『ADULT BABY』の延長線上にありながら大幅に表現と音作りが更新された本作。近年のメロウなドリーム・ポップを踏襲した"Don't Ask Don't Tell"の迷い一切無しな佇まい、元STEREOLABのJULIEN GASCをフューチャリングした余白をあえて多めに残す"Let Me Let You Let Me Down"、晴れの日に散歩するアレンジの超絶爽やかな"You're More Than Welcome"と17年分醸造されたキレとコクがアナタの耳を潤す!

At the tail end of his teens when he founded the beloved Australian indie label Chapter Music in 1992, Guy Blackman had also spent time in the Melbourne indie pop bands Sleepy Township and Minimum Chips by the time he finally released his first solo album. Introspective, charmingly wry, and vulnerable in character, 2008s Adult Baby (Blackman would later reveal) left him feeling "a bit scarred," a reference to the reception of some of the albums personal queer perspectives. Not eager to make more music of his own, he threw his energies into label operations until, about 15 years later, changes in the sociopolitical landscape and within his own attitude prompted him to re-enter the songwriting ring. His first album in 17 years, Out of Sight was recorded between 2022 and 2024 with Good Mornings Liam Parsons and Stefan Blair (in Melbourne) and the Ocean Partys Liam Halliwell (in London). Included in the albums bittersweet, self-conscious remembrances and observations -- 14 in all -- and previewing its dry humor is a duet with French musician Julien Gasc (Stereolab, Aquaserge) called "Let Me Let You Let Me Down." A melancholy keyboard tune with programmed drums, its make-do arrangement and imperfect vocals are indicative of the albums winning old-school-indie pop sensibility. The warmer and livelier "Dont Ask Dont Tell" is not about military service but rather allowing partners to keep their secrets, while "Dollar Bills" gossips about guys at the bar. Also included are songs about "Mens Hair" and "Grinding My Teeth" as well as "Bramley River Road," a song that rhymes "all agree," "you and me," and "chemotherapy." After revealing self-depreciating truths like "It Hurts Me to Sing" and "I Love Myself for You" ("Cause when I do, pretending makes it true"), Blackman closes Out of Sight with the dramatic strings-accompanied entry "Really Im Fine." Chapter Musics final new release as the label switches focus to reissues and maintaining its back catalog, Out of Sight may well make fans of D.I.Y.-style indie pop and Charlie Brown-type heroes mourn the nearly two decades of potential Blackman albums that never came to pass. ~ Marcy Donelson