OF SKINS AND HEART [AKA: THE CHURCH]

In the eighties The Church were frequently defined "dark" and compared to The Cure of Robert Smith. Their first album, "Of Skins And Heart", is just a collection of simple pop-rock songs built up around some nice guitar riffs that sometimes remind of The Cure, U2, Alarm, Midnight Oil, Split Enz. I do not dislike this album but for me it's hard to find here any trace of prog. "In the empty place the soul stripped bare / Of skins and heart and I come apart / In your icy hands / I forget my role / As I stare into your soul.". The voice of Steve Kilby, the guitars: the first track "For A Moment We're Strangers" reminds me a little bit of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry". The guitar at the beginning of "The Unguarded Moment" reminds me of The Beatles' "Ticket To Ride". The other tracks are "exquisite guitar pop" (as stated in the booklet) with every now and then some vague traces of Byrds. ".See the angry sea, it's a sign for me / There's another shore, what we waiting for / Feel the wind is sad, all the things I had / Blown away and falling around me.". The last track "Don't Open The Door To Strangers" with his dark mood is my favourite one.

In the whole not a bad album, but if you are looking for some progressive rock stuff it's better look for something else.