Search - Jack Frost :: Jack Frost

Go Between the Churches

Randall E. Adams | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the benefits of the sporadic release schedules enjoyed by a lot of the better artists over the past decade or so is the freedom it gives them to explore alternative paths without having to make the experiment a permanent commitment. Most good musicians have more going on in their heads than what they restrict themselves to in their mainstream releases."Jack Frost" was released in 1991, the year after the demise of the first run of the Go-Betweens. The Church, of course, were still in business. My guess is that Grant McLennan jumped at the chance to explore more electric and more psychedelic approaches than Robert Forster (or the fans for that matter) would have countenanced in the Go-Bees. And perhaps Steve Kilbey just jumped at the chance to work with a famously prolific songwriter.A few tracks sound amazingly like something from Howard Devoto's band Luxuria, particularly "Every Hour God Sends" and "Geneva 4 a.m.." It can't be a coincidence--Kilbey must really like Devoto; even his vocal stylings ape him. Classic McLennan surfaces on "Civil War Lament," "Thought that I was Over You," "Providence" and "Trapeze Boy" where Grant introduces us to Mrs. Morgan for the first time. Perhaps the most seamless melding of the musical approaches of Kilbey & McLennan occurs on "Threshold." But surely the most astonishing track is the gorgeously psychedelic "Everything Takes Forever." What a magnificent creation! It makes a fine closer to a really fine album.Amazon reports this release to be out of print. If you enjoy either Grant McLennan or the Church, this album is an absolute must have. I also recommend it to anyone with a taste for atmospheric jangly pop. Buy it used or find it somehow."

Collaboration between members of The Church and The Go-Betwe

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 06/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Out of print for a number of years, the debut album that the late Grant MacLennan (The Go-Betweens) and Steve Kilbey (The Church)recorded has finally arrived on CD again courtesy of Kilbey's label Karmic Hit. It's a terrific album. From the dark opening trains of "Every Hour God Sends" with Kilbey on lead vocals alternating with MacLennon to the mournful closing track "Everything Takes Forever" the duo mesh well.



The songs fall somewhere between Kilbey's cryptic but poetic approach in The Church and the character studies that MacLennan adopted in his band The Go-Betweens. It makes for a nice, thoughtful occasionally rocking collaboration (although I prefer the follow up "Snow Job" to their first album as they used an actual drummer and Russell Kibley on second guitar and I'm not a huge fan of drum machines). Although it isn't as memorable as the best albums either man has made with their respective bands, it is a fascinating occasionally moving collaboration.





We don't get any previously unreleased tracks (although for those who purchased this on vinyl, the CD does have the original CD only track "Even As We Speak" which didn't appear on vinyl or tape). A pity we don't get any demos as that would have been kind of neat to listen on the creation of the album. The reissue sounds pretty good. I honestly can't tell if this has been remastered but the packaging is slightly different (the old woman that was on the cover of the original CD has been replaced by a painting done of a photo of MacLennan and Kilbey that was originally on the inside of the package. The duo's first album is well worth picking up featuring the influence of Middle Eastern music along with sublime melodies and great performances by the duo



MacLennan will be missed he was a great underrated musical talent. A pity that we'll be denied more Frost, MacLennon and Go-Between recordings."