Steve Kilbey - Sydney Rococo (2018)

Sydney Rococo | Releases | Discogs

Steve Kilbey released a new solo record on November 23rd, 2018 on Golden Robot records.

"Sydney Rococo is my Sydney filtered thru lush orchestras and sighing voices. The summers the dreams the vegetation always pushing skywards. The inexorable rush of love and the deep chasm of loneliness. Songs about things that happened and things that never could have happened. Songs for a banker or for a tramp. Songs about the seediness and the sea. Songs of Sydney morning and Sydney night.”

REVIEWS

The Metal Report: 8/10 - Read review - "If you long for true songwriters that can create emotional attachments and transport you into your own love hate relationship with the city of your choice, this is perfection. For fans of emotive adult orientated rock, with thoughtful, inspired lyrics and sweetly dark melodies."

STACK JB HIFI: Read review - "Some of Kilbey’s solo work has been a little out-there, but Sydney Rococo is a thrillingly accessible collection of shimmering pop-rock gems. Check out When I Love Her She Sings, an instant Kilbey classic. Sydney Rococo also showcases what a fine singer Kilbey is."

Cryptic Rock: 4/5 Read review - "He may not be as popular as Johnny Marr nor as Peter Hook, but Kilbey has surpassed so many of his peers in terms of the volume of released works. Sydney Rococo is another addition onto his unending list of musical accomplishments."

Get Ready To Rock: Read review - "What I do know is that Steve Kilbey, founder member of one of the finest bands of the past thirty years – The Church, and one of the best songwriters of his generation has dipped his toe in the water – to mixed results."

PODCASTS

Rock at Night: Play Podcast - "Rock At Night interviewed Steve Kilbey about his new album, The Church, and more!  Kilbey discusses his yearning for melancholia in music; the painted album cover of Sydney Rococo; the Starfish tour and staying true to the original album; his favorite Church album, Priest=Aura; the Grunge movement; touring in the 90s versus today; and Stuart Coupe’s book Roadies"

Retropopic: Play Podcast - "Exclusive interview with Steve Kilbey in advance of the release of his solo album 'Sydney Rococo'.As well as hearing Steve talk about each track you can hear exclusive acoustic versions of 'Lonely City' & 'Traitor Signals', two songs on the album, from his performance in the 2RRR studio."

SINGLES:

Sydney Rococo

When I Love Her She Sings

• ONLINE PURCHASE AND STREAM LINKS

Kilbey Kennedy - Glow and Fade (2017)

Glow and Fade | Releases | Discogs

Australia's Kilbey Kennedy is a collaboration between the Church lead singer Steve Kilbey and All India Radio's instrumentalist Martin Kennedy. Formed in 2009, the duo make atmospheric, electronic-tinged pop/rock influenced by their shared love of '70s sci-fi, '60s psychedelia, and '70s Krautrock and prog rock. Originally, the idea for the collaboration came in 2005 on the heels of Kennedy releasing his solo album Big Spaceship on the Karmic Hit label, which was run by Kilbey's brother, John.The Church frontman heard the album and floated the idea of working on a project. With Kennedy handling most of the instrumental duties and Kilbey supplying lyrics and melodies, they debuted with 2009's Unseen Music Unheard Words. (Allmusic bio)

REVIEWS:

AllMusic: - Read review - "Musically, it's also a deftly arranged production that finds the two weaving in bubbly keyboard electronics and classical acoustic guitars alongside David Gilmour-esque electric guitar swells and drums that mutate from jazzy ride and snare patterns to driving, orgasmic Georgio Moroder club beats. And while the overall vibe is half-lidded and psychedelic, cuts like the languid, delicately orchestral ballad "They Know" and the romantic, Saint Etienne sounding duet between Kilbey and vocalist Selena Cross on "We Are Still Waiting" are indelible, tactile songs full of melody and poignant lyrics."

Louder Sound: - Read review - "The title track locates the common ground between ambient techno and shoegaze, with a somnolent drift that recalls The Beatles’ Across The Universe and the Floyd’s Us And Them. The Game Never Changes is a 16-minute neo-prog epic that unfolds with all the beauty of time-lapse photography and evokes the cosmic and fantastical, with meteorological shifts from stormy to spacey."

Smells Like Infinite Sadness: - Read review - "Glow and Fade will certainly burn bright, but don’t expect it to fade from view anytime soon–it will keep your ears and mind occupied for hours on end, with one foot in 70’s prog-rock heaven (as the wonderful album cover attests), and the other in some far-flung future only accessible through their singular sound."

Mind Noise Network: - Read review - "The album opens with the title track Glow and Fade, which eases the listener into the record. With soft synth strings and a progressive bass and drum beat, this is the ultimate chill, rock track. Each time the bass is played it rings out strong enough to cause the entire room to reverberate, and mixed in with the soft vocals these make a perfect combination. The track sounds like a dream which drags the listener through space and multiple galaxies, it is a perfect opening track."

SINGLES/VIDEOS:

We Are Still Waiting

Glow and Fade

Levitate

Online Purchase and Stream Links

The Church - A Psychedelic Symphony: Live at the Sydney Opera House (2014) (DVD/2CD/Live Reviews)

Psychedelic Symphony | Releases |Discogs

In April 2011, celebrating a 30 year Anniversary and recent ARIA Hall of Fame induction, Australian musical icons THE CHURCH played a spectacular sold out show at the Sydney Opera House. This Psychedelic Symphony was a one-off musical event and fan treat, featuring the bands' collaboration with conductor George Ellis and his specially assembled Orchestra. Filmed by XYZ, it is finally released on a single dual layer DVD - a timeless must have for fans and all music lovers alike. It is also available as a CD Audio-Only double set, including pullout artwork from the show night program.

REVIEWS:

Daily Mail Online: - Read review - "The power of Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes, Marty Willson-Piper and Tim Powles' atmospheric rock being carried by the orchestra's strings is at times exquisite: a lush violin sweep here, a 12-string guitar flourish there. This is The Church in ultra luxe mode.

The results even surprised Kilbey, who admitted in his blog: "I never thought a live album was right for us till I heard this. Accomplished yet still rocking ... maybe our definitive document."

Tone Deaf: - Read review - "Taking the safe path has never been the band’s shtick, however, so it was little surprise that the 2,000+ capacity gig sold out quickly, with fans flying in from far flung parts of the world to make it. But could they pull it off? It’s one thing to go from subtle reworkings of your songs to the potential bombast of a 67 piece orchestra backing you up"

Sydney Morning Herald: 7/10 - Read review - "But I think we can all agree that if you were to get a psychedelic symphony from any Australian band, you’d want it to be the Church. And that is what we got in 2011 as the band, seven extra players (including, incongruously for the Church, two female backing vocalists) and an orchestra bigger than Kilbey’s old dope bag played under sometimes mind-tripping lights."

Foxtel MAX: - Read review - "“A Psychedelic Symphony” will see George Ellis lead his orchestra into dynamic crescendos and sensuous odysseys. This ubiquitous conductor and musical director has worked a diverse range of projects highlights include the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games, the Athens Olympics, the Jakarta Arts Festival, and many concerts at the famous Spiegeltent."

Another Lost Shark: - Read review - "Then it’s the big one, as Steve says, the most popular Australian song of the last three million years, Under the Milky Way. And what can I say… the room is surging, every face in the room lights up. The second set closes with big rocker, Space Saviour. Tim’s drumming is frenetic, the cymbals getting more than a good workout. The crowd are on their feet, the band is waving and blowing kisses but no-one is leaving yet."

VIDEOS:

The Unguarded Moment

Tantalized

Online Purchase and Stream links (2xCD version)