Over more than a dozen releases, AustraliaΓÇÖs Church have crafted a highly-textured, stylized sound that, in addition to being instantly recognizable, helped lay a groundwork of sorts for bands ranging from the U.S.ΓÇÖs Galaxie 500 to U.K. "shoegazers" like My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver. With its latest release countering the ever-present rumors of the bandΓÇÖs break-up, the Church have neither gained nor lost ground. Some of the songwriting may not be up to the level of more consistent efforts (Remote Luxury or Heyday), but the "sound" is there: dreamy washes that ebb and flow into soothing soundscapes.
The opener, "Anaesthesia," is classic Church: somber and moody with Steve KilbeyΓÇÖs heavily reverbed voice down in the mix and Marty Willson-PiperΓÇÖs guitar lines ringing through. DonΓÇÖt look for any "breakthrough hits" like 1988's "Under The Milky Way," but the single "Louisiana" clocks in at a radio-unfriendly six minutes and gives Willson-Piper ample time to use most of the tricks in his bag. With long delays, he creates a lush bed while treated guitar lines come and go beneath the chiming rhythm.
Hologram once again shows that, as a band, the Church is greater than the sum of its parts. (Of all the members' solo projects, the Steve Kilbey/Grant McLennnan collaboration as Jack Frost is the only one that stands out.) As with many of the bandΓÇÖs albums, it may take a few listens for the beauty to emerge, but there are enough gems to make this one of the ChurchΓÇÖs better releases of the ΓÇÖ90s. Plus, the first 7,500 copies of Hologram include a free bonus disc, an hour-plus instrumental titled "Bastard Universe."
