This story is featured in CityBeat's Oct. 4 print edition.
Far away from America, in 1980, The Church formed in Sydney, Australia. New wave music was popular all over the world, and the group capitalized on it with their debut record, 1981’s Of Skin and Heart. The song “The Unguarded Moment” — more pop than new wave — became a chart-topping hit in their native country. Based on the song’s success, the major labels called. However, their U.S. label dropped them after their sophomore record failed to meet the success of their debut.
The Church is one of those bands that should be more popular in the U.S. than they are. But in 1988, “Under the Milky Way,” from their fifth album Starfish, became a hit on college radio stations and landed them more notoriety in the States; it peaked at No. 24 on the Hot 100 chart. It’s difficult to describe the sound of that song. It’s dreamy, provocative, otherworldly and evokes strong emotions with the lyrics: “Wish I knew what you were looking for.” It’s a departure from other rock-pop songs of that era because the ending features an EBow and a synth. At times it sounds like bagpipes. In 2001, the song was featured in Donnie Darko and helped a new generation discover the band’s rarefied gifts.
Vocalist and bassist Steve Kilbey is the only founding member still a part of the group. Throughout the years, the band has seen a rotating lineup of 10 different members. Despite the fact their most revered song was released 35 years ago, the band continued to record new material throughout the ’90s, and aughts, and in 2023. Their latest, 2023’s The Hypnogogue, is a psychedelic concept album. Some fans have called it a “masterpiece,” which demonstrates decades later, how The Church is able to mesmerize like they did early in their career.
The Church plays Madison Theater on Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. Info: madisontheater.com.
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