Much-loved Australian power-pop outfit Custard return with their first album in 16 Years, the fittingly-titled Come Back, All Is Forgiven, to be released on November 6 via ABC Music.

Featuring the classic lineup of frontman David McCormack, drummer Glenn Thompson, bass player Paul Medew and guitarist Matthew Strong, the album was recorded over a weekend in Thompson’s studio and features 11 new songs – their first new material since 1999’s Loverama.

“It sounds just like Custard’’, Thompson reports. “Put the four of us together and that’s the sound you get, it could be an album we put out in 2001”.’

Having formed in Brisbane in 1990, Custard released five albums over the following decade (Buttercup/Bedford, Wahooti Fandango, Wisenheimer, We Have the Technology and Loverama). The band developed a cult following, playing countless shows around the country and touring overseas, as well as producing a parade of memorable singles, several of which became entrenched in Australian pop music history. ‘Apartment’ polled higher than any other local artist in triple j’s Hottest 100 in 1995, with ‘Girls Like That (Don’t Go For Guys Like Us)’ coming in at #3 in the 1998 vote, before the group disbanded in 1999.

The members have all remained active in the intervening period, playing in groups including The Go-Betweens, The Titanics, The Polaroids, The Lost Gospel, The Purple Hearts and Beachfield.

After playing a handful of well-received reunion shows in recent years, the band ventured into the studio in February 2015 to see if this renewed enthusiasm might result in fresh material. The results inspired them to embark on the dreaded “come back” and release their first album in 16 years.

Come Back, All Is Forgiven finds the band reflecting on the current state of play. On lead single ‘We Are The Parents (Our Parents Warned Us About)’, McCormack remarks “Idon’t know how it started / I’ve got no idea how it will end”. They’ve also lost none of their trademark playfulness, the springy ‘Rice & Beans’ at one point probes “can you lend me $30”, then a moment later - in classic Custard fashion - former child star Danny Bonaduce and Little Richard are being name-checked.

Centrepiece track ‘1990’s’ is an overt reference to Custard’s key decade, recalling crucial memories from the band’s formative years, while closing track ‘Get In Your Car’ is perhaps the most climactic moment in their career, reaching a chugging swell that clocks in at just under 8 minutes.

Custard will embark on a run of shows in December, playing songs from Come Back, All Is Forgiven alongside hits and fan favourites including ‘Apartment’, ‘Anatomically Correct’ and ‘Girls Like That’.

Listen to ‘We Are The Parents (Our Parents Warned Us About)’ here

TRACKLISTING

1.       Orchids In Water

2.       We Are The Parents (Our Parents Warned Us About)

3.       Warren Rd

4.       Record Machine

5.       If You Would Like To

6.       1990’s

7.       Contemporary Art

8.       Queensland University

9.       Rice & Beans

10.    Factual

11.    Get In Your Car