Life Somewhere Else

Steve Kilbey—singer and founding member of the legendary Australian psych-pop group The Church—joins former Remy Zero guitarist Jeffrey Cain for a second studio collaboration that cements their musical sympathies. Cain provides a lush and variable backing to Kilbey's distinctive vocal phrasings. "Song of the City" re-creates the feeling of streetlights twinkling in an evening sky as a car slowly motors down the avenues; Cain sets up a meditative state for Kilbey's wispy and wishful vocals. "Old Black Spirit" recalls the sounds of fellow countryman Peter Milton Walsh's group The Apartments. The strings rise in strategic spots, but it's still Kilbey's stage. "Belle in Mid Air" and "Some Reverse Magic" shimmer and chime with chilling drama and durable pop hooks that’ll likely survive the constant replays given to addictive pop tunes. "Song for the Moon" works a nocturnal atmosphere with tinkering pianos and ambient strings. Fans who understand Kilbey's understated genius have much to celebrate with The Church's resurgence and this near-perfect endeavor.