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THE CHURCH

"Untitled #23"

Kindred spirits: The Byrds, R.E.M., David Bowie

When most American listeners last encountered the Church back in
1988, the Australian jangle-rock quartet was staring at the sky,
enjoying the gently cosmic vibe of "Under the Milky Way." The style
of that song has been the Church's signature ever since: easygoing
tempos, bobbing melodies and pensive lyrics that evoke lonely
late-night reveries.

The band has made subtle refinements, resulting in a set that's
sharper than most recent Church efforts. Although the quartet hasn't
returned to the sprightly pop style that yielded mid-'80s
college-radio staples such as "Violet Town," its new material grinds
some dirt into the airy sound.

The album features many of the touches that characterize the band's
later work, including raucous percussion, violin and sitar. Yet such
songs as the lovely "Deadman's Hand" rely primarily on bassist Steve
Kilbey's weary singing, ghostly vocal harmonies and the chiming
banter of Marty Willson-Piper's and Peter Koppes's guitars.

Largely because of Kilbey's oblique lyrics and Bowie-influenced
delivery, the Church can still seem chilly and distant. On "Untitled
#23," however, the "Milky Way" guys steer their music partway back to
Earth.

-- Mark Jenkins