THE CHURCH

Most of the songs are on an atmospheric and uniform mood. Some tracks though do speak more to me than other ones like "Space Saviour" for instance. But globally, I can't really highlight lots of songs from this offering. It is a combo of pleasant tracks but some flaws are also available. The long and monotonous "On Angel Street" is probably the weakest featured on this work.

Again, to listen to this album doesn't do any harm, with several song on the melodic side ("Sunken Sun") but I am still circumspect about their ability to generate passion and enthusiasm. Not mine that's for sure.

I can't see a major change in their musical direction throughout the years. Definitely not with this last album to date. Some fifty minutes of good melancholia.

Three stars.

By now, it sounds rather repetitive to say the least. Over twenty five years and a good chunk of releases to propose a new, yet old album is quite a disappointment. One could almost played their albums randomly without being able to determine which is the one played ? because they almost sound alike.

Not bad though, but so little creative by mow. Some good pop-rock items ("Unified Field") and a very thin relation to prog are the ingredients you can taste from "Uninvited?.". Same sort of inspiration, same sort of basic rock items ("Space Needle"), same sort of atmosphere, same of ? everything to be honest.

But after twenty five years, this sounds a bit too much and I can't be passionate about such a predictable album. Of course, this band is not the most sought on PA (only five reviews per album on average) and lots of readers might well ask themselves: "Who are these guys"?

Well, these guys were once quite creative but repeated the same recipe for ever and ever. Grab a lot of new wave sounds, mix them with some melancholic rock and duplicate. As much as you can. It worked for a while, including this album which is not bad at all to tell the truth.

Nothing revolutionary, nothing new. Same meal repeated. Still good but don't expect any outstanding track either. This is a good rock album. No more.

Nothing wrong, but nothing passionate either. The band also feels obliged to release quite long albums (over an hour for this one). It is fine when the music sounds fresh and inventive, but when it is repetitive, with little emotion, average song writing as well as sub-par melodies it IS very, very long indeed.

I won't describe a track by track review since this would be a carbon copy of preview reviews, always mentioning the same sort of influences or genre, absence of feeling and an overall (too) melancholic impression.

In all, this album is not a bad one; only inoffensive (although "Appalatia" is quite weak) and I rate it with three stars. This is an album to listen to while having a good glass of wine in front of your chimney during a quite autumn evening? Nothing wrong, but nothing passionate as I told you already.

There is nothing too wrong here, but the melancholic music, passionless and uniform vocals, same sort of music through this almost an hour of music are ingredients which I can't find too exciting.

There is even one track recorded live. I have always wonder why the band who has been active for about twenty years by the release of "After Everything Now This" never recorded a live album. Still, they are touring. But when I see the type of events they organize (dinner + show at around 100 AUD $ for a seat) I wonder what are going through their minds. Some sort of "Night Of The Proms" affair maybe; for rich and famous?

To cut a long story short, I prefer to listen to this album (and some other ones from "The Church",) when I don't need to concentrate on their music (while reading, driving?). It is really too much of the same even if their new wave link is again very much present here ("The Cure" and the inevitable Bunnymen).

There are some nice vocal harmonies ("Chromium") but there are hardly any great song featured on this work nor delectable instrumental sections. A long, dark, languishing and soft implication. To listen to one ("Reprieve" is one of my faves) or two pieces is OK, but to have the whole bunch of tracks in a row is quite an exercise.

IMHHO, the best track from this offering is the longer "Night Friends": the melody is catchier and there is somewhat more feeling in here. The mood remains on the soft side (nice piano and ambient passages). The proggiest song of this whole for sure. Some "Lou Reed" tonality for "Seen It Coming" is not too bad either.

This album is average. Five out of ten. I could have rounded up to three stars, would the closing track be some more attractive which is not the case, unfortunately.

Several songs from this work do belong to my youth. From the glam / new wave era (but not only).

The opening one is "Faith Healer": one of the best songs from "The Sensational Alex Harvey Band". It is less rocking than the original (the spacey intro is quite original) but OK. I met this song in 1974 with the "Next" album (which I recommend by the way).

Actually, most of these songs will be alright; but the problem resides more in the choice of songs.

I have already outlined in some reviews from their earlier work, that some "Ultravox!" feel could be found. They pay here a tribute to them with a rendition of "Hiroshima Mon Amour" from their second album "Ha! Ha! Ha! It is not my fave track from the band (whom I like VERY much) and this version is somewhat accelerated (hence much shorter).

Another fave band of mine was "Television". A US band from the great CBGB scene and close friends with the sublime Patti Smith. Their debut album was really incredible even if "Friction" was probably one of the least appealing track. A curious choice (why not the mythical "Marquee Moon" or "See No Evil")?

I can't evoke this album without talking about "All The Young Dudes" of course. A formidable song offered by Bowie to "Mott The Hoople" who were desperate in getting a hit and about to call it quit! This song hit number three in the UK chart and launched their career. But this cover is not the best one from the album, I'm afraid.

There is also a "Beatles" cover: a confidential Harrison song featured on the poor "Yellow Submarine" album. I guess that in terms of royalty, it might be affordable and probably therefore it made its entry here.

The Iggy Pop one ("The Endless Sea") has been fully "Churcharized" (as some others ones like "The Porpoise Song"). Nothing too exciting.

One of my fave out here is the old "Silver Machine" from "Hawkwind": it almost sounds punkish here. Not bad at all: wild guitar, crazy drumming and cool vocals. Very good indeed.

The last song I know from "A Box Of Birds" is the guitar hymn "Cortez The Killer" from Neil Young ("Juma" album in 1975). The original was indeed a great moment of electric guitar (but my all time favourite from the man - together with his C, S and N - is the formidable "Southern Man" version available on "Four Way Street"). This extended version also offers some great guitar moment and probably my fave from this cover album.

It is not only a guitar hymn, but also a wonderful homage to the native Mexicans who were exterminated by Cortez, the killer?A poignant song, especially for me (I'm half Mexican by marriage). Vocals from Steve Kilbey fit perfectly well and provide some gloomy and tenebrous feel. A great song for sure. Maybe my fave from the entire discography from "The Church".

In all, this is a good cover album. Only some of the songs are not truly representative of the original band's repertoire and some others are quite sounding too much like plain "The Church" songs.

Three stars.

I haven't yet found their relation with prog so far to tell the truth. But I have no problem with their new wave oriented music. Only that the new wave was quite sounding as old wave in the middle eighties or nineties.

This album is no different. A feeling of déjà vu. "Louisiana" is one example to highlight this. A borrowed romantic ballad (I can't find the name right now from the original which reminds me that song).

There are little passionate songs held on this album; it sounds pretty much the same from start to finish (but no song is weak either). At the end of the day, it is a fine rock album to listen to. Maybe too much formatted probably. The well named "Tranquility" is another fine ballad; but this album holds too many mellowish affairs to tell the truth ("Buffalo" or "This Is It" are some other ones).

The pop "Another Earth" has some more upbeat rhythm (but it wasn't difficult) and the catchy melody makes it one of the best song available together with the opener "Anaesthesia". The longer closing "Glow Worm" is also a very good song, but so much borrowed to "Doctors Of Madness".

"Hologram of Baal" is a good album; in line with most of their releases (except three or four lesser ones so far). No major changes (if any). Business as usual. But since it reminds good, there is no harm, right?

The highlight from this album is the superb "Ritz". As I was closely lined with the new wave scene at the end of the seventies, this song automatically reminds me of the great "Doctors Of Madness". An incredible band who would deserve to fit on PA thanks to its admirable violin play which can be found here. The haunting vocal part from Steve is not alien to the "Kid" Strange ones, and the superb Urban Blitz finds a great counterpart here with Linda Neil.

I was quite reluctant when I heard the opening track, but the next trilogy of songs is just brilliant. When you have listened to "Grandiose"; only one word comes to mind: "Grandiose" my friends. Powerful, heavy, hypnotic: magic in one word. A superb instrumental track and another highlight.

There is of course the unavoidable Bunnymen-oriented track ("Ladyboy"); or is it some Lou Reed reminiscence? In any case, this true rock-based tune is quite effective: splendid guitar and sustained rhythmic.

Some songs though could have been avoided and would have brought the length of this album into decent territories. The long complaint of "It Could Be Anyone" is one of these. But the magic is back again with "The Further Adventures?". Same feel as I have outlined already: new wave sounds to the bones (with some added keys), andt I like it.

This album features some excellent songs, but other ones are clearly attracting it to lower territories ("Romany") and the epic and hypnotic title track is too much of the same to be fully attractive.

Three stars for this work which would have gained to be shorter and somewhat more dynamic at times.

I'm afraid that this "Sometime Anywhere" doesn't fulfil its purpose. "The Church" has been moderately moving in terms of music as far as I'm concerned: a very fresh debut and some good albums, but really nothing to write home about.

This one isn't any major improvement to tell the truth. On the contrary, it sounds repetitive, bargained to (again) The Bunnymen, and little expressive. Languishing and basic rock tunes for about eighty minutes: that's quite a (boring) ride for sure.

This album conveys quite a dull feel ("Loveblind") and it is quite an effort to listen to this album from A to Z here. If I ever live up to eighty, I will have spent almost 1/270.000 of my lifetime to have listened to this work (I did it twice). I'm not sure that it was the most effective minutes of my life!

This is a rather average record to remain polite. The ability of the band to bring some fantasy into their music seems all gone. What's left is just repeated stuff which is far from being exciting. Where are those glorious new wave days (even if not popular on this site)?

Most of the songs are too long and offer very little to grab. Monotonous, little inspired, passionless: in a word somewhat useless unfortunately. Most of them do need the "press next" exercise to tell the truth. "The Maven" is only existing thanks to the great guitar break which closes the song.

I'm not telling that this album is absolute crap because there are still good moments available, but gosh! While "Angelica" is being performed the next thing you want to do is the definite "press next" thing for sure. The nadir of this album and probably of their whole career.

It is amazing how prolific one can write about such an average album. It is often more difficult to express your love for a dear and fabulous album, which is absolutely not the case here. As far as I'm concerned, this is the weakest "Church" album so far (and I have reviewed most of them in the chronological order as usual).

You can better skip this album from your concern. Not only won't you spend your money in a useless item but as I have said, it is also quite time consuming. Only "Eastern" is worth, thanks to a great violin paly.

If you would like to discover some great new wave bands who played violins, I just can recommend the fabulous "Doctor Of Madness". But this album is just shy of this great band. Some sort of sub-par "Lou Reed" or "Cockney Rebel" (some other great bands by the way), can be discovered during "Two Place At Once".

I will be quite generous with this album from "The Church": two stars. Which means: below average. Not any song that is kicking, not any song that is performing. Nothing really interesting to be honest.

As soon as "Aura" starts, the feeling is rather positive. The oppressive beat (great bass work) reminds me of some Roxy songs ("Manifesto" for sure). Same decadent atmosphere which I like quite a bunch. Even if vocals are quite monochord, they fit perfectly with the global mood of this excellent opener.

The same good experience is prolonged with "Ripple" which conveys the same and gloomy approach. A dark, sombre universe is at reach?I already have mentioned the huge influence of the great "Echo & The Bunnymen" on the music of "The Church" (on "Starfish" for instance). This is again very much noticeable on "Priest=Aura". Just have a listen to the fine "Lustre" to be convinced.

The melancholic tone and some sadness that can be felt throughout this work can be at times a bit "too much". The short "Swan Lake" doesn't bring a lot of fun for sure! Some more dynamics could have been implemented to break this general and oppressive feeling.

And the more the albums develops, the more the feeling of too much of the same prevails ("Kings", "Dome"). Under these circumstances, some cut would have been welcome to avoid some boredom being installed during these sixty-five minutes (fifty would have been enough as far as I'm concerned).

The first four songs were promising and the last couple are again attractive, but the core middle part is at times dull.

As I have said, towards the end of this album, a song like "Chaos" saves the day: a great rock tune with a very strong rhythmic and finally some punch. The Bunnymen are again sitting next door. And I like it.

Three stars for this good album. To be complete, I would say that the prog feel is only related?

There are hardly any song to be considered as a highlight and to be placed on the forefront of this average album. Even if some keyboards have their place in here, one can't say that some prog mood is prevailing.

So: nothing really prog, nothing really rock. What's left? Nothing great, I'm afraid. It sounds that the career of "The Church" is made of ups and downs and lacks of focus. Even if "Terra Nova Cain" has its own merits.

This album is a (too) long trip into some music that has been passed for quite a long time (new wave in the nineties?). No surprise, no fun, no pleasure unfortunately. Rather useless in their very long discography. If you're looking for some freshness, I can only recommend their debut. But this one is best avoided.

It is high time to propose some new angles to their late seventies sound. The worse is being achieved during "Disappointment". I really wonder how close of the reality lots of bands can express the way their music sounds like.

Two stars for this anonymous work even if the closing "Grind" has a desperate and oppressive feel which is quite welcome.