Australian psychedelic rock band The Church are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their seminal album Starfish by playing it in its entirety as well as a few choice cuts from their prolific career.
Popular 80s music can largely be characterised by reverb, big anthems and bigger hair. The Church by comparison have become an oft-overlooked blend of post-punk, alternative rock and progressive rock. Released in 1988, Starfish merged shimmering dual guitars, baroque indie harmonies and melancholy singing to become a watershed album for The Church. Not only did the single 'Under the Milky Way' net them an ARIA award, it was also their breakthrough album in the United States. This eerie, ethereal album blends the real and surreal in a way that is both timely and timeless.
The legacy of The Church has only been further cemented in 2018, after they were invited to appear at London's sold out Meltdown Festival, curated by 80s icon Robert Smith, followed by a spate of shows in the United Kingdom. Auckland fans can catch The Church fresh from a tour of the States on Tuesday, 4 December at the Auckland Town Hall.