Steve Kilbey is best known as the frontman of Australian legends the Church, whose “Under The Milky Way” was one of the defining alt-rock singles of the late ’80s. He has also released records with the likes of Grant McLennan, Martin Kennedy and Donnette Thayer, as well as a number of solo albums. Aside from being a member of the Australian Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Kilbey pens poetry and is an accomplished painter. His latest CD is Life Somewhere Else (Communicating Vessels) by Isidore, a collaboration with Jeffrey Cain (Remy Zero). Kilbey will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week.
Kilbey: Saint Lou Lou are identical twins raised in both Australia and Sweden. They have just this one song available for listening. The music herein is described as dream pop, and it certainly is a rush of romantic euphoric dreaminess, half electronic, half pop. A strange interloping beat going across the song, which shouldn’t seem to work, but it does. And then there’s those two identical voices wrapping around each other like twin snakes inextricably entwined. Subtle, powerful, gorgeous music, intricate and intimate. Understated and intelligent music, which has an aesthetic of loveliness above everything else. The sound of your first real love affair and its ending. I was bowled over by this deceptive simplicity and I was singing it for days afterward. When I’d wake up in the morning, I’d still be singing it from my dreams. Real dream-pop therefore. No ugliness here. Just relentless, ecstatic pop sounds.
Video after the jump.
