Kilbey Kennedy ‘Seraphina’ (Official Video)
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Kilbey Kennedy Release Album ‘Things We Did On Earth’
VINYL available in an Australian exclusive 180g splatter pressing of 150 with insert and stickers – RRP $50
CDs also for sale in a jewel-case -?RRP $20
“The album feels almost less like a collection of songs than a lingering emotional state. It’s immersive, transportive and remarkably cohesive from beginning to end. This is Kilbey and Kennedy at their very best. Where on earth they go to from here, who knows.” – Arun Kendall, Backseat Mafia review here
Steve Kilbey will be Featured on Alive 90.5 fm Australian Spectrum Radio Show 19th May
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In 1981 a teenage Martin Kennedy watched Steve Kilbey and The Church play at a strange hippie festival in Australia. They were outliers at this festival and he fell in love with their look and sound. He recorded their set on a walkman, and the songs helped spark the beginning of his music career. Just a year before, an equally fresh-faced Steve Kilbey formed The Church in Sydney, the very beginning of their public life as accidental hit makers.?
Forty five years later Martin and Steve find themselves working together on their ninth (add a bunch of side projects to this epic side project and they’re about 20 albums in) studio album ‘Things We Did On Earth.’
It’s always so simple: Steve calls Martin: Hey we’re touring Tassie got a few spare days to record an album? Martin: Heck yes.?
And that’s it. Martin writes the music and Steve rocks ups to write and sings the words. No argument, no egos, just a matter of pressing record.
They live in their own bubble, lost in a reverie, heads in the clouds. Martin doesn’t listen to any new music but his own. Steve enters his dream state and writes like there’s no tomorrow. ‘Things We Did On Earth’ is the culmination of everything that has lead up to this moment. It tells of mortality, dreams, other worlds, whatever you damn like. It could be their last album, but then they’ve been saying that for the last fifteen years.
Indeed these are the things Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy do on earth.
Bio
Kilbey Kennedy is the long-standing collaborative project between Steve Kilbey (The Church – “Forty some years into their existence, these Aussie psych legends are making some of the most vital music of their careers” – Brooklyn Vegan) and Martin Kennedy (All India Radio – “Like Pink Floyd & The Flaming Lips at their most ethereal” – The Needle Drop).
Since their first release in 2009, the duo has forged a singular sound – an “ultimate convergence of influences, that shimmers with a strange beauty accentuated by its dark and haunting undercurrents.” – The Music
Drawing on Kilbey’s evocative lyrics and Kennedy’s atmospheric production, Kilbey Kennedy moves through ambient, psychedelic, and experimental spaces, favouring mood and emotional resonance over fixed genre lines.
“Neo-prog epic” – Prog magazine
“Completely envelopes you, drawing you deep into its cosmic womb” – allmusic
“For those of us who never really expected Kilbey/Kennedy to be much more than a one-off side project, their continued collaboration is a gift to all fans and one that keeps on giving.” – Volt & Volume
Steve’s Blurb for the Album
The end of a century of wonders
Each glorious life engulfed by the Reverie Foundation
A million memories at once
All available to loved ones
And for sale to strangers
As things fell apart my daughter Serafina hiding forever in an imaginary darkened house in the woods
Exotic holidays in Beautiful Places
An encounter with an eel
The wheel and whirl of karma
The shadows of our lives in these songs
Mornings of despair and evenings of deceit
And lovely spirit from the otherworld she shines on a fragile flame
An argument
A marvellous view over a seaside city
The machines that came to life
And the plants that were harvested for cogs and filaments
All the love and loathing
All the bustle
And the stillness of a Dawn Lake
Thus are the things we did on earth
Order Vinyl or CD’s Here
https://www.kilbeykennedy.com.au
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SCENESTR MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE FOR SINGLE ‘SERAFINA’ BELOW
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Kilbey Kennedy Release Single ‘Serafina’
‘Serafina’ is classic Steve Kilbey (The Church) and Martin Kennedy (All India Radio), a timeless indie-rock track, driven by chiming guitars and melodic atmosphere in the spirit of R.E.M. and Kilbey’s legendary band The Church. Blending classic guitar jangle with modern cinematic production, the song delivers poetic vocals and dream-pop appeal for listeners drawn to nostalgic, guitar-led music.
NEW SCENESTR MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE BELOW
‘Serafina’ is the first single from their ninth album ‘Things We Did On Earth’.
Kilbey Kennedy is the long-standing collaborative project between Steve Kilbey (The Church – “Forty some years into their existence, these Aussie psych legends are making some of the most vital music of their careers” – Brooklyn Vegan) and Martin Kennedy (All India Radio – “Like Pink Floyd & The Flaming Lips at their most ethereal” – The Needle Drop).
Since their first release in 2009, the duo has forged a singular sound – an “ultimate convergence of influences, that shimmers with a strange beauty accentuated by its dark and haunting undercurrents.” – The Music
Drawing on Kilbey’s evocative lyrics and Kennedy’s atmospheric production, Kilbey Kennedy moves through ambient, psychedelic, and experimental spaces, favouring mood and emotional resonance over fixed genre lines
“Neo-prog epic” – Prog magazine
“Completely envelopes you, drawing you deep into its cosmic womb” – allmusic
“For those of us who never really expected Kilbey/Kennedy to be much more than a one-off side project, their continued collaboration is a gift to all fans and one that keeps on giving.” – Volt & Volume
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Gareth Koch and All India Radio Release ‘Song For Philip Glass’
Philip Glass looms large as a pioneer & exponent of the minimalist movement in 20th century music. In ‘Song for Philip Glass’ Gareth recorded a series of repeated sequences to emulate the Glass style, gradually adding layers of classical guitar, acoustic guitar & bass. Each of the sequences is preserved throughout the track & the layering of new motifs, or ‘riffs’, generates the evolution of the track. ‘Song for Philip Glass’ seeks to evoke the spirit of the composer’s work, while integrating pop, folk & ambient music styles.
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
All India Radio have created shimmering aural edifices that cross genres across 30+ releases since the late 1990s. All India Radio albums have featured cameos from many of Kennedy’s favourites: Steve Kilbey (The Church), prog metal legend Devin Townsend, Ed Kuepper (The Saints), Graham Lee (The Triffids), and David Bridie (Not Drowning Waving). Martin’s music has featured in CSI, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, Emmerdale, Bondi Rescue and many more.
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Gareth Koch & All India Radio Release Single ‘A Song For Brian Eno’
A Song for Brian Eno began life with Gareth recording a series of wine glasses (glass harmonica) tuned to differing pitches. The notes of each glass are tuned by adding specific amounts of liquid to each glass, and played in a circular motion with a moistened finger. In total seven glasses were recorded and these form the basis of the work.
Inspired by Brian Eno’s famous 1978 recording Music for Airports, this recording sits squarely in the ambient genre, a type of music intended to induce calm and a space for contemplation.
The track is expanded on synthesisers by ambient masters All India Radio. The final touches are added by Gareth on his signature classical guitar for Martin (All India Radio) to mix and master.
Watch the Video
About Gareth
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.
About All India Radio
A monument to the creativity and vision of songwriter Martin Kennedy, All India Radio is a fusion of psychedelia, prog rock, ambience, and pure dreamy pop creates something greater than the sum of its parts.
All India Radio have created shimmering aural edifices that cross genres and defy easy definition across a staggering 30+ releases since the late 1990s. All India Radio albums have featured cameos from Kennedy’s favourite artists over the years – Steve Kilbey from The Church, prog metal legend Devin Townsend, Ed Kuepper (The Saints) Graham Lee (The Triffids) and David Bridie (Not Drowning Waving). Martin’s music has featured in CSI, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, Emmerdale, Bondi Rescue and many more.
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Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy Release Album ‘Premonition K’
With the third album in less than 3 years things are gaining momentum with Premonition K Vinyl pre-orders sold out and a repress underway. Plus 5000 spotify followers can’t be wrong.
Building on the success of Jupiter 13 (2021) and The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus (2022), Steve and Martin release their latest epic, ‘Premonition K’. The album unveils sumptuous sonic soundscapes courtesy of Kennedy paired with Kilbey’s lyrics that delve into the dark and enigmatic realms that exist between the boundaries of life and death. They invite you to break out the ouija board, turn off the lights, and immerse yourself in the mysteries of ‘Premonition K’.
First checkout the video premiered on Scenestr
Steve Kilbey (The Church), band singer, songwriter, bassist, painter, writer, poet, actor, sage, and dispenser of arcane wisdom, is one of Australia’s most loved artists.
Martin Kennedy (aka All India Radio) is the ARIA nominated composer whose music has featured in CSI: Miami, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery and Bondi Rescue.
This album, a testament to their musical synergy, encapsulates a darkly beautiful soundscape, drawing inspiration from diverse sources, ranging from the haunting tones of Roger Waters ‘The Final Cut’ to the shadowy depths explored by early 1970s Pink Floyd or Hawkwind.
Steve Kilbey infuses each track with an emotional resonance and sense of mystery. Martin Kennedy co-pilots this sonic odyssey with Steve Kilbey. Together they weave an intricate musical bed for Kilbey’s lyrical dreamings with layers of sonic complexity, at once warmly familiar and mysteriously strange, creating an immersive experience for the listener.
Song Descriptions
Breaking The Fourth Wall
The opening track on the new Premonition K album from this prolific pair starts with an almost spoken word delivery from Steve with minimal backing. The track is reminiscent of Pink Floyd around The Wall era. As the song moves the textures build as it heads towards a massive outro.
Nowhere
This tune features ethereal female backing vocals and a full band mix. Kennedy’s lush guitar and keyboard textures flow over the drum and bass rhythm section. Steve Kilbeys highly distinctive voice is in great form and the lyrics as intriguing as ever.
The Song That Wrote Itself
An up-tempo radio track with all the elements that make this record a great piece of work. Steve’s voice and lyrics, lush backing, smooth but strong female backing vocals, especially on the chorus, easy catchy melodies, riffs and vocal lines.
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Kilbey Kennedy Release New Single ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’
Both of these guys are on a post covid roll, The Church’s Hypnogogue Album has received worldwide acclaim and Martin’s work has been far ranging and prolific as always.
Building on the success of Jupiter 13 (2021) and The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus (2022), Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy are about to releases their latest epic, ‘Premonition K’. The album unveils sumptuous sonic soundscapes courtesy of Kennedy paired with Kilbey’s lyrics that delve into the dark and enigmatic realms that exist between the boundaries of life and death.
Steve Kilbey, best known as frontman of legendary Aussie post-prog rockers The Church, infuses each track with an emotional resonance and sense of mystery. Martin Kennedy co-pilots this sonic odyssey with Steve Kilbey, weaving an intricate musical bed for Kilbey’s lyrical dreamings. Drawing from his twenty years of soundscaping with All India Radio, Kennedy adds layers of sonic complexity, at once warmly familiar and mysteriously strange, creating an immersive experience for the listener.
The first single from the new album ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’ – upbeat jangle-guitars and Kennedy’s familiar electronic swirls provide the stage for Kilbey’s trademark lyrical magic.
Steve Kilbey says, “That’s Gotta Hurt is about the existential pain of loving and losing and of attachment to the roles we play in this theatre of the absurd.”
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Gareth Koch & Martin Kennedy Release Album ‘Music In The Afterlife’
“Brian Eno meets Massive Attack and classical guitarist John Williams”
The idea of an afterlife has fired imaginations across cultures for millennia and is one of the earliest belief systems in recorded history. It is fascinating to consider that a type of identity or stream of consciousness might exist in the absence of the physical body.
In ‘Music In The Afterlife’, Gareth Koch & Martin Kennedy have created a sound world which seeks to convey a continued existence taking place in the spiritual realm, or otherworld. In mythology there are phases through which the consciousness passes before arriving at a reward in the afterlife. The Koch/Kennedy songs, or pieces, reflect imagined states in which the protagonist journeys through the stages of waiting, trance, drifting, resignation & Elysium.
In their debut collaboration Viennese-trained classical musician Gareth Koch & ambient music specialist Martin Kennedy have created a unique sound world. Their compositions weave acoustic & electronic realms into a seamless fabric in which medieval, folk & electronic influences are entwined. If this melange is beginning to sound like an unholy brew nothing could be further from the truth. The pieces are deft, intuitive & hypnotic, drawing the listener into a reflective & profound listening experience.
In what is termed classical music (perhaps more aptly described as western art music) the earliest notated plainchants of around CE930 were centred on spirituality & belief in the afterlife. From this point onwards classical music evolved with a connection to an otherworld or divine, often embracing various mythologies. Ambient music came of age in the twentieth century in the era of electronic synthesisers, but its origin’s date back to French classical music composer Erik Satie. Satie pioneered a genre of music which emphasised tone & atmosphere, providing the ideal sonic environment for contemplation & spiritual reflection.
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Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy Release Album ‘The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus’
Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy follow up their acclaimed album Jupiter 13 with the epic ‘The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus’, a sprawling Pink Floyd-ish concept album that shimmers with darkly beautiful musical undercurrents, oblique lyrics and spooky spoken word pieces. It is the second chapter of an eventual trilogy and this one has already garnered strong reviews leading to release.
ALBUM REVIEWS
http://bigtakeover.com/recordings/KilbeyKennedyTheStrangeCaseofPersephoneNimbusFoghorn
The album was recorded in Tasmania overlooking the ocean, peaceful and crystal calm one day, dark and stormy the next, a dynamic that inevitably worked its way into the music and lyrics.
Returning to the mixing desk is Simon Polinski (Paul Kelly, The Church, David Bridie, Stephen Cummings, Underground Lovers) who skilfully brings the story of Persephone Nimbus to life.
Steve Kilbey writes: ‘Persephone Nimbus was just an ordinary woman living an ordinary life, with a promising job at Eternity Incorporated. Until one day she was kidnapped by the Plutocracy.
There she reigned for 6 months of the year, a sad cold queen of the dark webbed world. But for 6 months of the year she was allowed to ascend to the Overworld with its marvellous technological illusions, and it’s towers that pierced the very sky. But on the first day of every autumn she must take the long staircase back down, down into the Plutocracy, with their frozen lakes and above them, a sky of iron.’
In 1981 a teenage Martin Kennedy stumbled upon Steve Kilbey and The Church at Tanelorn, an oddball old world meets new world music festival, and fell in love with their look and sound. He recorded their set on a walkman, and the songs helped spark the beginning of his music career. Just a year before, an equally fresh-faced Steve Kilbey formed The Church in Sydney, the very beginning of their public life as accidental hit makers.
Forty one years later Martin and Steve find themselves working together on their sixth studio album, the epic The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus. As ever with these two, the deal is simple: Martin writes the music and Steve writes the words. No argument, no egos, just a matter of pressing the record button. The results are an effective balancing of Kennedy’s haunting and melodic tunes with Kilbey’s mysterious, witty and intelligent lyrics, melded together by his heavenly voice. Martin keeps his teenage love of The Church out of the equation in fear of it skewing his songwriting but it’s there if you listen closely.
“Sumptuous meeting of Australian soundscaper and the head Churchman…Apart from having a voice of characterful cool poise and an imaginative lyrical lexicon, Kilbey can make a strong melodic song out of simple elements.” (MOJO)
“Occasionally side projects can be something really spectacular. This isn’t an album where you pick favorite songs – you simply immerse yourself in the whole lush experience. The good news is they’re recording a follow up” (Reverb magazine 4.5/5).
Kilbey/Kennedy – The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus(Fog/MGM)
Out Oct 28 CD and Digital
Vinyl LP release Early 2023
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Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy Release Single ‘When Time Has Run Out’
With echoes of The Wall-era Pink Floyd, ‘When Time Has Run Out’ is the first single from Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy’s new album, ‘The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus’. Steve Kilbey of psych rock legends The Church and writer of magical hit ‘Under The Milky Way’ once again joins forces with Martin Kennedy of atmospheric ambient stalwarts All India Radio for their seventh studio album.
“A sumptuous meeting of Australian soundscaper and the head Churchman… a voice of characterful cool poise and an imaginative lyrical lexicon, Kilbey can make a strong melodic song out of simple elements.” – MOJO
The first single from the new KK album begins with powerful guitars, keys and vocal layers before the drums and bass break in. Soaring electric guitars and strings layers drive this mid-tempo tune along while Kilbey’s iconic and instantly recognizable vocal. A must add to playlists.
In 1981 a teenage Martin Kennedy stumbled upon Steve Kilbey and The Church at Tanelorn, an oddball old world meets new world music festival, and fell in love with their look and sound. He recorded their set on a walkman, and the songs helped spark the beginning of his music career. Just a year before, an equally fresh-faced Steve Kilbey formed The Church in Sydney, the very beginning of their public life as accidental hit makers.
Forty one years later Martin and Steve find themselves working together on their sixth studio album, the epic ‘The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus.’ As ever with these two, the deal is simple: Martin writes the music and Steve writes the words. No argument, no egos, just a matter of pressing the record button. The results are an effective balancing of Kennedy’s haunting and melodic tunes with Kilbey’s mysterious, witty and intelligent lyrics, melded together by his heavenly voice. Martin keeps his teenage love of The Church out of the equation in fear of it skewing his songwriting but it’s there if you listen closely.
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