After signing to Arista in 1988, they saw their largest international success with the album Starfish and the American Top 40 hit "Under The Milky Way" which resurfaced on the soundtrack of the cult movie "Donnie Darko". Whilst the band remain feted by their peers, subsequent commercial success proved elusive: 1990s follow-up album "Gold Afternoon Fix" failed to capitalise on their success, and the band weathered several line-up changes after its release, first losing long-term drummer Richard Ploog, then Peter Koppes following 1992s "Priest = Aura". That album baffled and confused many fans upon its release as to what band The Church was considered to be, but is now considered a seminal album and one of the most revered by Church connoisseurs. The vacant drum-stool on Priest=Aura being occupied by Jay Dee Daugherty of Arista labelmate Patti Smiths group, and it was produced by Gavin MacKillop of Moose.
Reduced to a two-piece, Kilbey & Willson-Piper re-grouped with the assistance of drummer/producer Tim Powles to record 1994's "Sometime Anywhere", concluding their obligations to the Arista and Mushroom labels. The commercial decline, combined with the Church being ignored again by a music press more focused on the Nineties' music trends, could have brought about the demise of the band, had it not coincided with the breakthrough of the internet, thus enabling direct communication from the band to its passionate cult fanbase.
This brought about a new beginning for The Church, with Peter Koppes rejoining the band for recording 1996s "Magician Among The Spirits". The band (with Koppes back into the fold, and Powles now as the permanent drummer ), hit a re-newed creative surge and with regained selfconfidence, released "Hologram Of Baal" 2 years later, and toured Australia, the USA and Europe.
The first decade of the 21st century found the band releasing severeal highly critically acclaimed albums, like 2002's aptly named "After Everything Now this" and 2003's "Forget Yourself", the latter breaking new ground with bandmembers swapping instruments in the recording process. Live performances stray from high profile events like the 03 concerts at Sydney Opera House and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, to low-profile gigs for smaller audiences, often confusing old 80s fans, surprised to find the band still playing, wrongly assuming the band just being one in the never-ending string of reunion acts.
2009's album "Untitled#23" marked yet another highlight.. its essence represented in just 10 songs, and with a strong less-is-more approach, the albums core identity being on par with Starfish, it also finds Steve Kilbey breaking new ground as a vocalist.
2010 saw their 30th anniversary, with extensive touring in the US and Australia. Their unique position and importance in the australian music scene was recognized with an ARIA award.
Their album, "Further Deeper", was released in 2014, and "man woman life death infinity" in 2017.
A New Season
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sighing whispers near, a new season passes here.
Sensory gifts to all who come
Soak up the stars and setting sun.
It's strange and wilder, ageless bechilder
Saved by fire, touched and finer.
Gray stands the tower in the distance.
Days pass like warm sun on the face.
Shared is the cure to conquer lonliness.
It's strange and wilder, ageless bechilder
Saved by fire, touched and finer.
Peaceful, blissful union is the priestess.
Doubt flows the river into darkness.
The song A New Season by The Church is a beautifully crafted piece of work. The opening line "Shaded crystal water, bathed in by God's daughter" creates a serene and dreamy feeling. It could be pointing towards a new beginning, a new phase in life or starting afresh. It is followed by "Sighing whispers near, a new season passes here". This line suggests that there is something new in the air, and the changes are about to take place. The singer asks us to soak up the stars and the setting sun, which may be released implying to live in the present, to enjoy the moment we are living in. The reference to sensory gifts could be regarding cherishing the vibrancy of life.
The lines, "It's strange and wilder, ageless bechilder, saved by fire, touched and finer", express the confusion and wildness of life and how it can shape us into better versions of ourselves. It could also be referring to the idea of rebirth, a new beginning after a trial of fire.
The last few lines "Peaceful, blissful union is the priestess. Doubt flows the river into darkness" could be interpreted as the singer's plea for harmony in life. Doubt is natural, and it can lead to the depths of one's being, but it's better to embrace it and move on to a beautiful passion.
Line by Line Meaning
Shaded crystal water, bathed in by God's daughter.
The water is crystal clear and shaded, and it feels like it is being blessed by God's very own daughter.
Sighing whispers near, a new season passes here.
The new season has arrived, and it seems to pass by with quiet whispers in the air.
Sensory gifts to all who come
Everyone who comes receives gifts that stimulate the senses.
Soak up the stars and setting sun.
Enjoy every moment and take in the beauty of the stars and the setting sun.
It's strange and wilder, ageless bechilder
The feeling of this moment is unfamiliar, unbridled and eternal.
Saved by fire, touched and finer.
Saved from harm by the consuming yet purifying power of the fire, making everything seem refined and polished.
Gray stands the tower in the distance.
In the distance, there stands a grim, grey tower.
Days pass like warm sun on the face.
The days pass by like the warm, comforting rays of sunlight on the face.
A new season.
A new season has arrived.
Shared is the cure to conquer loneliness.
The cure for loneliness is found in sharing and connecting with others.
It's strange and wilder, ageless bechilder
This moment is uncharted and incredibly exotic, feeling like it has lasted forever.
Saved by fire, touched and finer.
Strengthened and refined, the touch of the fire has saved and transformed.
Peaceful, blissful union is the priestess.
The peaceful and serene feeling of this moment is as if being blessed by a priestess.
Doubt flows the river into darkness.
Darkness lies ahead, and doubt flows with the river.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PETER KOPPES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself