Jim Moginie: singing, guitar and odd piano type things.
Kent Steedman: guitar and bass, singing.
Tim Kevin: bass, baritone guitar, organ and singing.
Paul Loughead: drummer.
www.jimmoginie.com for more updates
First things first.
1. This is not a folk record – although it does contribute significantly to the oral tradition of a group of people.
2. Neither is it a lament – although a beloved icon of Australian folklore has, alas, shuffled off this mortal coil.
"I don't lament the passing of Midnight Oil," Jim Moginie says for the record. "We did what we had to do and moved on. We had 25 years, we got out in reasonably good shape and we maintained our creativity and integrity through all of it. It was almost the perfect trajectory a band could have."
Since the Oils' retirement of late '02, their co-founder, guitarist, keyboard player and songwriter has been, in his unassuming words, "pretty busy". Check the fine print on albums by the Sleepy Jackson, Neil Finn, Silverchair, End of Fashion, Sarah Blasko, David Bridie and Kasey Chambers for starters.
If, like him, you're more interested in exploring new horizons than polishing old war medals, Alas Folkloric is a revelation unto itself.
It's an album of discovery, both in its wide spectrum of moods, textures and melodies, and in the union of broadly political and intensely personal themes that only come with knowing your place in the world.
"It probably sounds a bit like a disaffected '70s leftie really," is the way Jim puts it. "There's been a certain amount of idealism lost to economical gobbledygook, weasel words and spin, but I guess a lot of my preoccupations have continued into this record. Maybe in a quieter way."
Well, sometimes. No Oils fan could fail to connect with the crashing electric propulsion and contained rage of "Around the World" – yes, that is Rob Hirst thrashing the drumkit, and Martin Rotsey applying the familiar guitar tension that launched a thousand riffs.
There are familiar rings, too, in the euphoric finale of "Outer Space" (Hirst again); and in the bittersweet Australian pride at the heart of "Halfway Home", an acoustic road song for a compromised country co-written and played with Something For Kate's Paul Dempsey.
The ethereal "Hey Little Dove" is one of a raft of songs that belong to "a lost rock opera" Jim started a decade ago. "The Oils played around with 'Stand Your Ground' too, but as a band we could never quite get our heads around it. I think they'll be relieved those songs have seen the light of day at last."
Aftershocks aside, equally evident on Alas Folkloric is an air of radical departure, as one of our most thoughtful songwriters follows his heart to a new level of personal expression, with fresh horses to speed his way.
Cold Chisel alumnus Don Walker had a hand in the sparse, resonant song of transition, "A Curse on Both Your Houses". Co-producer Wayne Connolly (Kneivel, You Am I, the Vines, Dallas Crane) applies his rock guitar wizardry and sundry other skills to a handful of tracks.
Pedal steel player Garrett Costigan (Tex Don and Charlie) is a poignant presence on "Let the Hurricane Blow", "A Love So High" and "Stand Your Ground", a trio songs that could only have been written by a seasoned observer of life who knows how to hold his powder dry.
"I knew it was time to finish the album when I was doing 'Stolen Moments'," Jim says. "I did the vocals in April this year and I'd done the backing track back in '98. A lot of the time I was making the record, life just took over.
"At times I thought well, maybe I should just hang up my guitar and go retire in dignity. But I'd started spending time hanging out at folk festivals and I realised making music was too important to me, to my happiness.
"I found those festivals a revelation because they're full of people who are music fans. It's not about the music business, or people telling you what's cool. It's about people having quiet revelations in bowling clubs and cafes and if you're crap, people walk out. You just need to be good at what you do."
After 20 years of classic recordings, perhaps the real calibre of Jim Moginie's craft is only now coming to light, maybe in the line-drawing character sketch of "Stranger Than Truth", the dark suburban confusion of "Stolen Moments" or the prayer of hope that is "Pastoral Scene".
And ultimately, albeit tempered by the experience and even resignation of a wiser man, his message of self-respect and gentle defiance is as strong as ever: "Everything fades, everything fades, but we will not fade away."
"I think the key is to continue with a certain sense of integrity, not to do the obvious acoustic album of your greatest hits," Jim says. "I think people are much more interested in (artists) doing things that are now, for them.
"Being in a big band and all that goes with it, all of that fell away for me in the last few years and that was a really interesting process. Let it all fall apart and see what happens. That's what making this record has been all about."
I'm really excited to have uploaded to myspace my first
video! It's called 'A Day At The Country
Show'. I'd love you to check it out and
let me know what you think.
Have a wonderful weekend!I'm going to a Blue Grass Festival!I really hope to make it to Australia someday to see u live!That would be a dream come true!Peace Out!
still really enjoying your album jim.. especially the songs themselves/ lyrics.. the kind of songs that inspire me to write songs, I come back to them, just wanted to tell you that E
To all the lovely mates of the legendary Jim Moginie, Please take 3 minutes to register and VOTE for my comic, it would mean the WORLD to me! I'm in second place with 3 days to go!!! All I need is your time, just a tiny bit! Just click on the picture and register, it's totally safe! Love Foz
hey jim - jon s williams here from the new melbourne 2 piece loud rock band - city of cool - i'm the guy that did the singersongwriter version of power and the passion - city of cool has new tracks up ready to listen to - we reckon we fit nicely in the dirty tradition of australian rock - cheers!
hey jim, hope all is going well with ya. record almost done now, single launch april 1, record launch may 8 here in melbourne. il be in sydney this weekend hanging out with kate at her show, if your about come grab a beer cheers matt
Hey Jim, Good lineup at Brackets South on Feb 6th Bec Fielding Holly Kirsten SedanDelivery Rocwater. It would blow our doors off if you could make it. Darryl
jim...thankyou so much for listening to my version of power and the passion and then actually sending me a message...your words were very thoughtful and kind...as a long time oils fan (for the first of about 15 times [i was at the final melbourne concert @ forum]i saw the band live 26 feb 1982@ anu, canberra on my 17th birthday), and a keen appreciator of your wondrous guitar playing and songwriting (i also saw your band here in melbourne a few years ago @ east brunswick as well as you playing guitar with neil finn and wendy and lisa @ prince of wales)...it really does mean the world to me that you should take an interest...see you in concert when you next come to melbourne...cheers!
HI Jim , the Jaykle thanks you very much for becoming friends youself and the oils were very inspirational to me as a lad growing up ,particularly that work on a place without a postcard ,absolutely love that album ,i remember sitting in the backseat of my older brother's car with that pumping out the speakers so loud we couldn't even speak. f'ing wild . cheers Jaykle
