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.
Shadow Cabinet
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at the things she allows
Junction fever must have closed down the rail
The gluttonous wind keeps on nibbling the sails
Queuing in the ruins in the wake of the gale it's
Harmony I say
Hear the difference between close and near
Bliss comes first as a jangling flood
Pillow from the old country arrives with a thud
That night she drinks ceremony and mud it's
Happening I say
Must be thirsty, drink, drink, sink, forget
Must be empty inside the shadow cabinet
She offered her chaos to me
Proffered herself languidly
The eldritch bitch must have muddled her spells
Tinges of Persia, I hope that it sells
Chemical nuptials and ringing the bells
It's heavenly I say
Then one winter morning you walk through the trees
But they cut them all down for the factories
Made this pretty cabinet and gave you the keys
It's hardly used I think
The Church's song Shadow Cabinet is a complex collection of lyrics that paint a picture of a chaotic and mysterious world that is difficult to navigate. The song is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that hint at a deeper meaning, making it difficult to discern what it is truly about. However, upon closer inspection, it appears to be about the struggles of a relationship and the difficulties of communication and trust within it.
The opening lines, "Now chased by the shapes of your vows, look at the things she allows," suggest that there are unspoken expectations and broken promises that are causing tension within the relationship. The lines that follow, "Junction fever must have closed down the rail, the gluttonous wind keeps nibbling the sails," further emphasize the idea that communication has broken down, and it feels like there is no way to reach each other.
As the song continues, there are more references to chaos and confusion within the relationship, such as "Bliss comes first as a jangling flood," and "She offered her chaos to me." Despite this, there are still moments of connection, such as "Harmony I say," and "Happening I say."
Towards the end of the song, there is a sense of resignation and acceptance, with the line "Must be empty inside the shadow cabinet," suggesting that the relationship has become hollow and unfulfilling.
Overall, Shadow Cabinet is a rich and complex song that explores the nuances of relationships and communication.
Line by Line Meaning
Now chased by the shapes of your vows
Being constantly reminded of the promises that you broke
Look at the things she allows
Taking note of the things that someone is willing to put up with in a relationship
Junction fever must have closed down the rail
Feeling trapped and unable to move on from a situation
The gluttonous wind keeps on nibbling the sails
Constantly being met with obstacles and setbacks
Queuing in the ruins in the wake of the gale it's
Waiting patiently for a positive outcome amidst the chaos
Harmony I say
Despite the difficulties, trying to maintain a sense of peace and balance
Hear the difference between close and near
Reflecting on the nuances between similar concepts
The way oaths and oafs interfere
Not being able to fully commit or succeed due to external factors or personal hindrances
Bliss comes first as a jangling flood
Feeling overwhelming joy and excitement
Pillow from the old country arrives with a thud
Feeling homesick and nostalgic
That night she drinks ceremony and mud it's
Trying to find solace in unorthodox methods
Happening I say
Feeling optimistic about the future
Must be thirsty, drink, drink, sink, forget
Using alcohol or other substances to numb negative emotions
Must be empty inside the shadow cabinet
Feeling unfulfilled and purposeless despite having power or influence
She offered her chaos to me
Inviting someone into their life despite its unpredictability and chaos
Proffered herself languidly
Offering oneself in a lazy, casual manner
The eldritch bitch must have muddled her spells
Referring to a manipulative person who may have ulterior motives
Tinges of Persia, I hope that it sells
Incorporating exotic or trendy elements to make something more appealing
Chemical nuptials and ringing the bells
Participating in a superficial or artificial ceremony or celebration
It's heavenly I say
Despite the falseness of the situation, finding some pleasure in it
Then one winter morning you walk through the trees
Remembering a more peaceful or natural time
But they cut them all down for the factories
Feeling sadness or nostalgia for things that have been destroyed or replaced
Made this pretty cabinet and gave you the keys
Being handed something that may be aesthetically pleasing but ultimately useless
It's hardly used I think
Feeling that the thing handed to you hasn't been fully utilized or appreciated
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself