From The Desk Of Steve Kilbey: “Damaged/Controlled” By GB3

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: GB3 is Glenn Bennie, the guitarist from the Underground Lovers, probably one of favorite Australian bands of all time. Having widely let it be known my love for his former (and yet sometimes ongoing) band, we eventually got together and made this record. I wrote words and sang all but two of the songs on this record. It starts and ends with Phillipa Nihill singing (my words).

This record is super melodic and both pre- and post-shoegazer, too. Incredible that a record as good as this goes unnoticed in this world because it’s got all the ingredients of greatness. (And that’s not even counting me!) Bennie is one of those guitarists who’s got such an individual take on his playing and sounds; everything he does immediately sounds only like him. His genre is electronic guitar-scapes that feel like an E coming on. Fast and slow, his songs all accompanied by a delightful sense of melody and economy. This music is a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended and kind of rare. This was only released in a very limited amount. But every lover of weird pop should have it in his collection. And radios round the world should be pumping out its dreamy songs.

Video after the jump.