The Church – Untitled #23 (Second Motion)

by Michael Toland
9 May 2009

The eight feet of the men in the CHURCH have long stood in several worlds, which is what makes the long-running Australian band’s music so consistently interesting and satisfying. Of late, the group has been diving deep into an ocean of psychedelia, and Untitled #23 is its most acid-washed release yet. The ten tracks float in and out of an ether made of stars and mist, with lush atmospherics more prominent in the mix than ever before. That’s not to say the group has left melody behind in pursuit of pure texture – “Happenstance,” “Operetta” and “Pangaea” mix tuneship with foggy notions quite well. But the heart of the record lies in shimmering mini-epics like “Anchorage,” “Lunar” and “Space Saviour,” wherein the Church displays an extraordinary ability to arrive without traveling. Space exploration entwines with a search for inner peace in an undulating vortex of beauty and wonder. Gently defiant proof that artists can and should continue to improve and evolve with age, Untitled #23 is one of the Church’s best records.

http://www.thechurchband.com
http://www.secondmotionrecords.com

Filed under psychedelic