The Hypnogogue is a very good album that doesn't really feel like The Church

[@James-wj8eq]

For me each track time travels me back to their albums past. From Skins and Heart, Blurred Crusade to Starfish and Priest =Aura ...its all here for the converted! Simply brilliant, pure listening joy!

[@lf170]

This album does indeed feel like The Church. What they have been doing since 1998's Hologram of Baal is keeping their signature sound (moody, atmospheric, layered, etc.) yet still managing to sound modern and not like some 80s or 90s relic. They do this by continuing to successfully add to their sound vocabulary, and unlike with many bands from the 80s, they sound like themselves without sounding like some nostalgia act, or like they're writing the same songs over and over. The last 4 or 5 albums from them have this timeless quality. This particular one for me is definitely in the top 3 or 4 Church albums (and one of my all time favorites). And that's saying a lot considering the line-up changes. However, it did take me a full month of daily listening to come to that conclusion. It's a dense album, one that takes repeated listening.

[@paulcollins5586]

Cest la vie is classic jangly church.

[@Jimbaud1]

Until late last year, The Church, for me, were indeed that "one hit wonder" from the 80s, and I always liked "Under the Milky Way", but I never felt compelled to explore their stuff on the strength of that one hit song. That is until FINALLY last year, and on the insistent recommendation of a friend of mine. So, I checked out the classic run of albums from the 80s: The Blurred Crusade, Seance, Heyday and Starfish. I really enjoyed them, especially Blurred Crusade and Starfish. The timing for The Hypnogogue couldn't have been better than now! I've listened to it several times in the past week and absolutely LOVE it! It's my early favorite for "Album of the Year". I pretty much agree with everything you said about the new album. It's not a "perfect" album, "C'est la Vie" is my least favorite track and, yes, Kilbey wrote a couple of clunky lines, but for the most part, an absolutely STELLAR album! Cheers!

[@electricbrainelectricshado9490]

So glad to hear you've been digging in!

[@lf170]

Definitely check these albums out: 1998's Hologram of Baal, 2002's After Everything Now This, 2009's Untitled # 23, and 2014's Further Deeper. And of course, what many consider their masterpiece: 1992's Priest = Aura, which like The Hypnogogue, is an album that takes a lot of listens to really sink in (and starts off much slower than this latest album).

[@JaCapella]

Same here. I knew about them since 05’ but only listened to Milky Way the equally good 2nd hit from Starfish - “REPTILE” This album is incredible. Surprised you don’t like the 2nd track not cuz I know you but because it fits right in and I like it.

[@gr8googly]

Being a fan since 1986, I was a little skeptical when Marty left, but I was surprised by how well Ian fits in. I love Further/Deeper, especially the epic Miami. MWLDI is also very good. When Peter left, I was even more concerned and I considered him a more vital element of the Church sound. And here comes the Hypnogogue, one of their best. I guess Steve’s writing pedigree, his ability to work with musicians of a certain type, and the environment they foster just helps make amazing music. Doesn’t seem like it should keep working after all this time, and there have been some missteps, but their work since Tim came on as a full member (he’s such an important part of this band) just keeps getting better and we are so lucky to be the recipients of it.

[@electricbrainelectricshado9490]

Eros Zeta is further proof of this, I think. I thought of their prolific nature and huge catalog as proof of their vitality in the old days, and casually tossing out a surprise album is more like the old Church I knew.

[@b-dogs1038]

Man, you know The Church for sure . My first radio encounter was ‘Metropolis’ back in 89’ (sorry 90’) & I bought the Album. For me, their commercial hits are absolute bangers & timeless till today. *Got yr Y/T, thinking this guy couldn’t be talking about ‘The Church’ 😂I can’t believe they’re still putting out new stuff & that they’re still around. Syd/Australia

[@Thevinylscavenger]

For me a fan since 1990 i instantly liked all early stuff pretty much but then lost them around 2000 ish and sporadically have been disappointed by them with say few decent songs on most albums. Weirdly if asked l always say they are my favourite band based on the early stuff when i don't own the recent ones at all. Maybe an element of naming a band no one has heard of at times (certainly in UK very little known). I bought this one as it feels different sonically and thought approach wise, also the line up. Similarly my mates are extreme in that they are either Kilbey is god and all stuff is amazing or he's gone up his own arse somewhat leaving me in the middle to balance the books. Let's see how this one goes. Very largely ignored even more by the music press i saw only one review in magazines and no mention in say Record Collector though they do tend to learn on old rereleases and to a certain degree old tat again and again. I'll stop there......

[@spaceengineer1452]

Nice history/summery/review. From Sydney.

[@alonys]

Like the Cure, this band lives mainly because of the lead singer. The major change to their sound has been the change of drummer.

[@fractalmusicj]

I really like the church as well still haven't gotten into the Hypnogogue just yet this may come later they made great music of a long long period time great band, insightful synopsis and great work Ive covered them on my channel check it out :)

[@electricbrainelectricshado9490]

Will do!

[@chrisknowlton9460]

Thanks for stating the elephant in the room (that it's not The Church anymore). One thing about SK vocals: didn't he have major dental work done and got implants about 10 years ago? I think it made a negative impact in his enunciation or pronunciation of words, almost like a speech impediment. At least that's what I hear from my point of view. I didn't like Further Deeper and really liked Man Woman. I'll be getting this album most likely.

[@electricbrainelectricshado9490]

Huh! I hadn't heard that but it makes sense.

[@derkeheath5172]

Kilbey's voice was always weak and needed a strong producer to pull good vocal tracks from him. Their albums up until Heyday are painful to listen to for me because his vocals are so off key. I think age (and likely the teeth work) has probably made it a lot harder to get a good vocal track out of the guy. Overall, he just doesn't sound good anymore, and the tracks themselves aren't strong enough to offset it IMO. I still usually find one or two songs on each album that I really like, but that's about it. I always hope they'll grow on me, though.

[@shaunmitch1970]

Saw kilbey solo acoustic gig 2 months in Sydney … 12 feet away. Voice was superb for a 69yr old. I also saw the church earlier in the year. As good as a gig as I saw them play in 1989 in a small pub in Sydney they made a surprise appearance as a band called starfish. His voice is in fine form. He has never had a strong voice. I got the impression that as, he’s gotten older, he’s begun to sing and adapt with age. I said to a friend earlier this year when we saw the band this is a new church. Absolutely fantastic band and a great record. Frankly, I am stunned at some of the criticism I’m reading. This is a band that has been going since the early 1980s and has reinvented and still making incredible music. Hypnagogue is a great record. I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t. Of course they are not the same church how can they be? Personally, I’m thrilled that a band I love has made it this long and it’s still making good music. If he had dental work, there was absolutely zero indication of it, in his speaking voice, when he was chatting with the audience and after the gig. Usually you can tell when that is happened. The guy is 69 years old singing rock. Appreciate him for what we have right now. His voice is in fine form, writing good music in a good band.

[@sspbrazil]

I love this album, in my opinion, The Church have never made a bad album, some are better than others, but there are no stinkers. That says a lot. I think the reason this doesn’t sound like a Church album is because it’s basically only Steve Kilby left now.

[@lf170]

Maybe not outright stinkers, but for me, Sometime Anywhere and Magician Among The spirits can be skipped. They contain a handful of great tracks, but overall don't hold up. And as much as Gold Afternoon Fix is maligned (even by the band themselves or at least Steve Kilby, if I remember correctly), it is still more consistent overall and a notch above those two (though still, just an "OK" album). As for "only Steve Kilbey left now", Tim Powles has been a member since 1994, longer than any other drummer. Original drummer Richard Ploog was only in the band for 5 albums while Powles has been on 10 albums, most of which he also produced or co-produced. And he's a far better drummer than Ploog.

[@sspbrazil]

@@lf170 Sometime Anywhere is one of my favorite albums by them, so I don’t agree there, Magician isn’t a great album, but it’s no stinker either, nor is Gold Afternoon Fix which was named after Kilbey’s reliance on heroin. Also, I said “original members”, while Powles has been in the band a long time and longer than Ploog, Ploog was an original member and was the drummer during their most influential era, so in that case it’s only Kilbey at this point.

[@lf170]

@@sspbrazil Well, I too said they weren't stinkers, just not as good as the rest. To be fair, I haven't listened to Sometime Anywhere all that much. Guess I need to revisit it.

[@sspbrazil]

@@lf170 yeah, that’s what I meant, some albums are not so great, but no stinkers really. Give Sometime Anywhere another spin man.

[@lf170]

@@sspbrazil Will do. Have to say, I just discovered the Spotify version of Magician Among The Spirits (with "And Some" added to the title), and it makes the album much better. Guess they had some unreleased tracks and they added them, but instead of tagged on the end, they re-sequenced the album. It's a much stronger album with the "new" tracks - they're really good! Surprised they left these off and included the ones they did.

[@JaCapella]

I think it’s phenomenal. It’s the album that baptized my ears and converted me from StarFish to reverse Cat. Cowboy. Cumpleet w. Killerbee clickbate cover art. And to answer the 2nd “tell me what u think” My review of the reviewer. It’s clear you Were a big fan of the band as a whole. I know what that’s like but not with this band as previously mentioned. So I got to come at this thing with with fresh ears. I did Not and still 95% don’t know Anything besides this and starfish of their catalogue. But my impression of you is that you almost didn’t want to like it you didn’t want it to be better than What they’ve been putting out over the last 20 yrs or so that you mentioned. Yes it is and it’s bringing in new fans like myself. Which is what you wanna see happen when you love a cult act as many of my favorite bands/solo artists are as well:

[@philippalmer7686]

Excellent summation of the Church's career, highs and lows, and all points in-between. I have yet to give this latest offering a chance.

[@philippalmer7686]

I do think Further Deeper was one of their strongest efforts, however.

[@paulcollins5586]

Theres a new one coming out 2024/ 25

[@barringtonbing393]

Great analysis

[@musiclegend1]

Interesting. A guy here who prefers the sound of his own voice. Pretty piss-poor review IMO.