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.
The Night Is Very Soft
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taillights in earshot, headlights shine through her
And on legs crossed on the red surge settee
Sat next to nothing and she looked right through me, and on
Inside the car sat a sulky blond
And on her lap the road went on and on
As she dresses I look to the ground
Perhaps I know where the place can be found, and on
We'd pile into the Buick, but you've got to have money for that
Ninety two people taking it too fast
They never noticed where their lines are cast, and on
I've got a milk white electric guitar
Walked in the shop and I peeled off the notes
Oh yeah
The Church's song "The Night Is Very Soft" is a dreamy and atmospheric ballad that seems to explore the themes of loneliness, alienation, and detachment. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman sitting on a red surge settee with tiny drops of water glistening on her black fur as she is ignored by the singer. He seems to be preoccupied with his own thoughts as he tries to locate a place where he may find comfort or a sense of belonging. The woman, who is described as "next to nothing," appears to be lost in her own world as she looks right through him.
In the next verse, the singer observes a sulky blond sitting inside a car as the road goes on and on. He seems to feel a sense of disconnection from the world around him and struggles to find a sense of purpose or meaning. The lyrics suggest that there is a longing for escape from the mundanity of life, but there is the realization that one cannot just pile into a Buick and drive away from their problems. The reference to the "ninety-two people taking it too fast" implies that society is moving too quickly, and people are not taking the time to reflect on their actions or consider the consequences of their choices.
Overall, "The Night Is Very Soft" is a song that captures the feeling of being lost and adrift in the world. The lyrics suggest that there is a yearning for something more, yet the way forward is unclear, and the future is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Tiny drops of water glistened on her black fur
Water droplets rested on her dark fur.
Taillights in earshot, headlights shine through her
The sound of a car leaving mixed with the headlights illuminating her.
And on legs crossed on the red surge settee
She sat elegantly on the red sofa with her legs crossed.
Sat next to nothing and she looked right through me, and on
She was almost invisible and paid no attention to me.
Inside the car sat a sulky blond
There was a sad blonde girl in the car.
And on her lap the road went on and on
The endless road was in her lap.
As she dresses I look to the ground
I look away as she gets dressed.
Perhaps I know where the place can be found, and on
I may know where to go next.
Outside, the night is very soft, but where does it end
The night air feels gentle, but its boundaries are unclear.
We'd pile into the Buick, but you've got to have money for that
We would take a Buick, but it's too expensive.
Ninety-two people taking it too fast
A large group of people are living life too quickly.
They never noticed where their lines are cast, and on
They don't know where they are headed.
I've got a milk white electric guitar
I have a bright white electric guitar.
Walked in the shop and I peeled off the notes
I played music in the store.
Oh yeah
An exclamation of enthusiasm.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KILBEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself