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, 2008's
Adult Baby (
Blackman would later reveal) left him feeling "a bit scarred," a reference to the reception of some of the album's 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 Morning's
Liam Parsons and
Stefan Blair (in Melbourne) and
the Ocean Party's
Liam Halliwell (in London). Included in the album's 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 album's winning old-school-indie pop sensibility. The warmer and livelier "Don't Ask Don't 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 "Men's 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 I'm Fine."
Chapter Music's 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
