Radio Transient is the latest solo album by Chris Church who has been in making music in North Carolina and elsewhere for the last 30 years or so, with among other bands Jack Sabbath, Dang, Junkflower, The Jones. Radio Transient was recorded with help from Nick Bertling, Bill Lloyd, Lindsay Murray and Lori Franklin who co-produced alongside Chris. I may have held this review back for Maundy Thursday although I don't think Chris Church would have washed anyone's feet while making this record, apart form his own of course.
The album opens with the glistening power pop of Gcrt, that I assume is an abbreviation of my location, as I sit here reviewing this in Grosvenor Court, this is a deco delight with clean lines, as something has raised his hackles, like he's been speaking to the wrong resident and is ready to start screaming in frustration, as things go round in circles once more before Chris starts chanting.
Going 'Til We Go is more wistful, with jangly guitars with a Postcard influence, as he tells us he will do whatever you want him too as the synths help keep this in a nice comfortable space.
I Don't Wanna Dance With Me seems to be upset at going to a dance workshop with mirrored walls, having to see yourself pulling all those ridiculous moves, the shame, the embarrassment at all your dad moves, while this sounds a bit like John Hiatt, as the crisp guitars work against that simple bassline.
One More Chance To Get Over You is a big haired near power ballad, that needs a proper windswept video with women with massive shoulder pads flouncing out of Chris' life, as he begs for them to stay over the thankfully not too monumental guitar solo.
I Think I Think I like you has enough pleading and begging, for the affection he craves, over searing indie pop with a bit of a Prefab Sprout kind of feel.
Already In It has some seemingly Japanese inspired, carefully picked guitar, that hooked me in, as the rest of this song came across as the sort of song I would have totally ignored had I heard it in the late 80's, as it mirrors the blander end of late 80's indie pop almost perfectly.
Over And Out lets the guitars jangle insistently as the song evolves sweetly. Gotta Go, Gotta Ramble is a perfect song for this time of year, to be played while out on a traditional matzo ramble, although this sounds like more fun than spending your days walking with religious zealots ever was, again this has a late 80's shoulder pad indie sound, as you pull on your hiking boots and hit the trail.
Far Too Late has me wondering if it reminds me of Icicle Works or Icehouse, it also has the vocals going a good bit Paul Young before his voice lost its power, but then it starts to go off at a cool musical tangent to keep me interested.
The album closes with Flip that may or may not be about the legendary clothes shop on the Kings Road in London in the 80's, that sold all sorts of cool retro American classic clothes, as Chris asks you to see the impossibility of wanting to sound like it's still 1987, while the most dangerous American you could think of was Ronnie Raygun, so you'd better catch Chris on The Flip and listen closely to find out what these songs are really about.
Find out more at https://bigstirrecords.com/product/866699 https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/radio-transient https://www.facebook.com/chrischurchmusic
