The Church - Gold Afternoon Fix

This follow up to their US hit "Starfish" wasn't nearly as successful, but it maintained just as high a quality of songwriting, if not better. They had developed an idiosyncratic sound, based on Steve Kilbey's dry, sardonic singing, and the amazing variety of guitar work by Marty Willson-Piper. It's more varied than "Starfish", stretching the limits of their jangly guitar pop style. The songs go through a big variety of moods, from sinister ("Pharaoh"), perky and optimistic ("Metropolis"), folky ("Monday Morning"), dirgy ("Disappointment") or ponderous ("Grind"). The shuffling sci-fi chant "Terra Nova Cain" is particularly fun, although the pretentiousness of Kilbey's lyrics is illustrated by such gems as "she put her foot down on the oscillation pedal - she was a trans-dimensional speeder". "Russian Autumn Heart" features Marty's more throaty voice, as well as some mad speedy guitar strumming. If ever a guitar riff can be sarcastic, it is on "You're Still Beautiful.". If anything it's a bit too long, and they could have left off some limp songs such as "City", "Laughing" and "Fading Away".

October 6, 2003

7 out of 10

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