CD: KH041
RELEASED: 2009
LABEL: KH

01. Outbound
02. Wolfe
03. Celestiall
04. Crystalline Rush
05. Song For the Masking
06. File Under Travell
07. Look Homeward Angel
08. Onenone
09. Spirit In Flame
10. Forever Lasts For Nothing
11. Not What You Say

Steve Kilbey is best known as the lead singer of the veteran psychedelic rock group, The Church. Their releases, especially during the 1990s, are dense and sonically dark offerings that continue to be amongst my favorite records to this day. Beginning his solo career with the 1986 release of Unearthed, Kilbey has maintained a steady stream of solo releases since ? to the rate of about three per decade, not counting his recordings with side-side projects Jack Frost and Isidore. What many people don't know is that Steve Kilbey's solo CD's have been just as good if not better than the widely known releases by The Church. On his solo outlest Kilbey focuses more on experimentation and space, providing a much more challenging range of material. Painkiller follows in this vein, but also includes some more accessible acoustic melodies that lie comfortably next to the expected experimentally charged compositions. From the opening notes of "Outbound" to the closing ambient ripples of "Not What You Say, " this is an album in the truest sense of the word, meaning that it must be listened to in its entirety. "Celestial" is just that, a gorgeous floating piece of music with ringing mellotron and lovely piano bits splashed all over it. The more experimental songs on the record are corkers too. "File Under Travel" is an epic instrumental that lasts over ten minutes. The pounding of the bass is reminiscent of the opening track, but a little more loose and raucous. Crunchy overdriven guitars are blended with rhythm instruments to make a wholly dizzying chaos that is quite wonderful. And for anyone seeking something more accessible, there are some great straightforward acoustic songs that will appeal to those yearning for something a little more mainstream. "Forever Lasts For Nothing" is a short folk song that sounds like it could have been squeezed onto an early Church record. It's the work of a hugely talented musician who's always avoided complacency and compromise and followed his vision for much longer than most.