Parallel Universe

I'm normally not a fan of "remix" albums and although I held out buying this even after owning every one of their albums I was quite pleased. Each version adds a new dynamic to the original songs and this is now a welcomed addition to my collection of one of the greatest bands.

fast delivery, good price

...prepare for the trip. Parallel Universe's remixes present a tasty shift.The new double CD release features remixes of each song from After Everything Now This (released earlier this year), plus six new outtakes from the AENT sessions. On first listen, the remixes seemed challenging and overwrought, but on subsequent listens, the cohesion and painstaking care that went into the remixes suddenly clicked, and now I can't stop playing the remixes, which are rich with enough texture to turn the heads of the most diehard Boards Of Canada or DJ Shadow fans. I'm a long-time Church fan and fan of AENT, so I can't comment on whether being familiar with the original tracks could hinder the experience; I sense that the remixes would stand on their own.The remixes expand on many of lead singer Steve Kilbey's preoccupations with splicing and reconfiguring his own solo recordings (solo fans, think "Remindlessness" and "The Slow Crack"); the full-on dance remix of "Under the Milky Way", which they played before their Seattle "Box of Birds tour" show, was probably a dry run for Parallel Universe. The band has finally figured out how to do it right. Drummer Tim Powles was at the knobs for part of the adventure, and I'm sure his touch added a level of quality the release otherwise wouldn't have achieved.I have to depart from other reviewers about the B-sides. Each of the six songs is curious, but three are among the weakest tracks the band released, and could've stayed in the vaults. However, both "Twin Stars" and "Treason" are both very good ... definite standouts.If the remixes grab you or if you're a veteran Church fan, I would buy this record in a heartbeat, and take the outtakes exactly for what they are: outtakes (for those particularly interested in Church B-sides, I highly recommend "A Quick Smoke at Spot's" and "Hindsight"). If you're new to the Church, I'd start with "Starfish" before taking the leap to "Parallel Universe", unless your primary interest lies in electronic music, then I'd definitely start here. Once you get here, prepare for tasty, moving, mind-altering pleasantries.

First disc is regular Church songs meant to be found on some dancefloor.Second disc is the parallel universe of their music. Something totally different! They are stepping in an other world and it's a beautiful one. My favorite track is "Twin star". Deliciously noisy at start but reached a beautiful guitar-harp sound in the middle part with magical lyrics "she's got two tiny stars in her eyes ..." and it becomes more noisy again and ends softly with that harp-guitar sound. Second favorite is "1st woman on the moon" I enjoy every seconds of that 11 minutes song, love that over-emphasis on the bass and the lovely percussion. Very sensual.Nice album.

I first heard this album last month playing over the loudspeakers in the elevator of my office building. Oddly enough, the first CD was played in it's entirety on the way up and the second played on the way down. (It is a slow elevator.) I questioned the security guards in the lobby to see who the band was, as I hadn't heard the music before. After being strip-searched and deprived of food for six hours, I was told that this magnificent work was by the group, The Church. I was released on the condition that I never wear pink womens underware again while at the office. After venturing home and puttin on some green panties, I drove to my local Sam Goody and instantly yelled at the clerk for not having this item in stock. I then ran all the way home (my car got stolen) and found the album here on Amazon[com].