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.
Night Of Light
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A rundown future let me down now everything's complete
Uncurling human tragedy apparently a parody
Send my love upstairs to me she used to be a symphony
I let her go into the night
Night of light, satellite, quite a sight to see
Dream importer's underling who answers to the boss
Can't afford a breakage, I'll pay for any loss
Let her come and look for me she used to be the enemy
(Chorus)
Seaside town in winter, I'm trying to write my book
She's broken down, it's raining, I said I'd have a look
Uncurling human tragedy appropriately a mystery
She tells my story back to me she said I'll live this chapter
Till eternity
(Chorus)
The Church's song Night Of Light is a beautiful and layered piece of music that tells a story of loss, regret, and the search for redemption. The first verse takes us to a dingy cafe in a dilapidated street, where the singer reflects on his life and all that he has lost. The future he had once envisioned for himself has crumbled, leaving him with a sense of hopelessness and a feeling of unfulfilled potential.
The second verse introduces the character of the Dream Importer's Underling, an enigmatic figure who seems to hold some key to the singer's salvation. Though he is bound to his boss's whims, the underling is sympathetic to the singer's plight and offers to pay for any losses incurred in his quest for a better self. Uncurling human tragedy is apparently a parody, hinting at the often absurd nature of our lives and how we sometimes feel as though we're living in a play that we can't quite understand.
The chorus of the song is a powerful refrain that speaks of the night of light, a satellite that illuminates the darkness and provides a guiding light for those lost in the night. It's a metaphor for the hope that we find when we're at our lowest point, when everything seems to be falling apart and there's nowhere left to turn. The final verse takes us to a seaside town in winter, where the singer is trying to write his book. He encounters a woman who tells him his own story back to him, reminding him of the chapters of his life that were written long ago and the ones that are yet to come. She encourages him to keep writing, to keep living, and to keep searching for the light in the darkest of nights.
Line by Line Meaning
Dishwater cafe in a torn paper street
The singer finds themselves in a dull and unremarkable setting, in a shabby part of town.
A rundown future let me down now everything's complete
Despite having achieved their goals, the singer feels unfulfilled and disappointed with the way their life has turned out.
Uncurling human tragedy apparently a parody
The singer sees suffering and sorrow around them, but it all seems fake and exaggerated.
Send my love upstairs to me she used to be a symphony
The artist pines for a past lover who was once the source of great joy and beauty in their life.
I let her go into the night
The artist has accepted that their love is gone and has moved on from it.
Night of light, satellite, quite a sight to see
The night sky is full of wonder and beauty, with the stars and technology visible to all who look up.
Dream importer's underling who answers to the boss
The singer is in a subordinate position, and feels trapped in a job that does not fulfill them.
Can't afford a breakage, I'll pay for any loss
The artist is careful not to make any mistakes or damage anything, as they cannot risk losing their job and income.
Uncurling human tragedy there's definitely a remedy
Despite the sadness and suffering in the world, there are ways to alleviate the pain and make things better.
Let her come and look for me she used to be the enemy
The artist is willing to try again with a former enemy, but is not actively pursuing them.
Seaside town in winter, I'm trying to write my book
The singer is in a quiet and peaceful setting, where they are working on a creative project.
She's broken down, it's raining, I said I'd have a look
The artist's friend or lover is in distress and they have promised to assist them, even in unpleasant conditions.
Uncurling human tragedy appropriately a mystery
Despite knowing that there is suffering and tragedy in the world, the singer is still puzzled by its nature and reasons.
She tells my story back to me she said I'll live this chapter till eternity
The singer's friend or lover is able to understand and articulate their struggles and experiences, and promises to stay with them through thick and thin.
(Chorus)
The repeating chorus emphasizes the beauty and wonder of the night sky, and the feelings of unfulfillment and dissatisfaction that the singer experiences in their life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself