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.
Spark
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In reflection I'll see you again.
Approach me, soak me.
Faith, faith, breathe.
'Cause it's here, it's where the air is clear,
Where far off things could be quite near.
No repairs are needed, just a spark.
I'm interested, you've always been a subject, that I could learn.
Climb, don't ever turn back.
Seed, seed, grow.
(chorus)
(Repeat first verse and chorus)
The lyrics to The Church's song Spark evoke an image of a deep emotional connection with someone, as evidenced by the line "I'm saturated. I'm wet with your tears, you spill so easily." The singer seems to be moved to tears by the other person's emotional outpouring, suggesting a close bond. The reflective tone of the second line, "In reflection I'll see you again," hints that this connection may be fleeting - something to be appreciated in moments of introspection.
The next set of lines seems to be a plea for the other person to approach and make themselves known: "Approach me, soak me. Faith, faith, breathe." This could be interpreted as a desire for the person to be more present or communicative, to deepen the connection further. The setting of the lyrics is described as a place where "far off things could be quite near", which perhaps symbolizes the closeness the singer desires with the other person.
The chorus repeats twice, emphasizing the idea that " no repairs are needed, just a spark". The singer seems to believe that the strong emotional connection they feel is enough to sustain them, and that they only need a small spark to ignite this connection and create something special.
Overall, the lyrics of Spark paint a picture of an intense emotional connection between two people, one that may be fragile or fleeting but is deeply felt nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm saturated. I'm wet with your tears, you spill so easily.
I am completely filled with your emotions, you express them so effortlessly.
In reflection I'll see you again.
I will have memories of you that I can recollect even in stillness
Approach me, soak me.
Come near and immerse me in your love and emotions.
Faith, faith, breathe.
Hold on to your beliefs and keep breathing through all the ups and downs.
'Cause it's here, it's where the air is clear,
Where far off things could be quite near.
The present moment is where clarity lies and where distant dreams can be realized.
No repairs are needed, just a spark.
There is no need for fixing, just the start of something new.
I'm interested, you've always been a subject, that I could learn.
I am intrigued by you and there is always more for me to uncover and understand.
Splendid hills, unconquerable mountains.
There are beautiful, yet challenging obstacles to overcome.
Climb, don't ever turn back.
Keep climbing forward and don't let setbacks stop you.
Seed, seed, grow.
Plant the seeds of your goals and dreams and nurture them to grow.
(chorus)
Refrain/chorus to be repeated after the next verse.
(Repeat first verse and chorus)
Repeat the first verse and chorus of the song.
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BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself