The Church - The Blurred Crusade

After such a fine debut as Of Skins and Heart, creating a follow-up might have been a burden for the Church; and maybe it was, but the end result was well worth it. Perhaps even better than their first, The Blurred Crusade captures what for many remains the classic early Church sound, blending both the various strains of '60s inspiration and postpunk drive detected from the start with an even more elegant melancholy. Musically, both Willson-Piper and Koppes are just fantastic, their combination of guitar playing running the range from sparkling post-Byrds chime to sharp power. If the group doesn't fully explode here as much as later albums would demonstrate, especially on Heyday, it perhaps can be laid at producer Bob Clearmountain's feet. Consider the slow but steady build-up of "When You Were Mine," guitar lines and notes setting the scene before fully kicking into the main riff and the clever but not forced production on the vocals on some of the middle verses. Add on the fantastic solo about four minutes in, and this is great rock music, period, deeply impressive coming on a sophomore album. Highlights are plentiful throughout Blurred, but the best numbers are perhaps the opening "Almost With You," a note-perfect combination of hooks and downbeat but not morose atmosphere, and the lengthy, powerful "You Took." Willson-Piper's lead vocal number "Field of Mars" and the brief, concluding "Don't Look Back" are further songs of note.

The Blurred Crusade (Expanded) stands as a monumental achievement in the history of Australian alternative rock, capturing The Church at a critical juncture where raw potential transformed into masterful studio wizardry. Released originally in 1982, this sophomore effort shed the frantic post-punk urgency of their debut in favour of a lush, shimmering canvas of neo-psychedelia. Legendary producer Bob Clearmountain acts as the album's secret weapon, giving the record a pristine, deep, and timeless sonic space. His production allows the complex elements to breathe, elevating the band from a local college-rock act into architects of a grand, atmospheric dream-rock landscape.

At the absolute heart of the album’s brilliance is the dual-guitar wizardry of Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes. Their intricate, chiming patterns weave around each other seamlessly, creating a dense but sparkling wall of sound that would heavily influence the dream-pop and shoegaze genres for decades to come. Frontman Steve Kilbey anchors these sonic explorations with his signature deadpan, poetic vocal delivery. His enigmatic lyrics evoke surreal imagery and romantic longing, most notably on the iconic hit single "Almost With You," which pairs a gorgeous jangle-pop melody with an unexpected, breathtaking Spanish acoustic guitar solo.

The album masterfully balances accessible pop sensibilities with daring, progressive arrangements. While tracks like "To Be In Your Eyes" offer bright, melodic hooks, the record's true emotional peak lies in its darker, more expansive numbers. The brooding "Fields of Mars" moves with a slow, ghostly elegance, while the sprawling, eight-minute epic "You Took" serves as a masterclass in building tension. "You Took" starts as a moody, rhythmic march before exploding into a fierce, duelling guitar crescendo, proving that the band was entirely unafraid to push beyond standard radio formats to achieve a grander artistic vision.

This expanded reissue significantly enriches the listening experience by collecting the essential B-sides and rarities from the original sessions, offering a complete picture of the band's creative peak. The addition of "Life Speeds Up" is a particular triumph, injecting a dose of high-energy, guitar-driven rock that balances the album's more hypnotic, slower moments. Paired with Paul Pattie's surreal, medieval-inspired cover art, this definitive edition cements The Blurred Crusade as a flawless masterpiece of 1980s alternative music. It remains a stunning, immersive journey that sounds just as innovative and spellbinding today as it did over forty years ago.

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The Church; The Blurred Crusade

1.      Almost With You

2.      When You Were Mine

3.      Field Of Mars

4.      An Interlude

5.      Secret Corners

6.      Just For You

7.      A Fire Burns

8.      To Be In Your Eyes

9.      You Took

10.   Don’t Look Back

11.   Life Speeds Up [B Side Of Almost With You]

12.   The Golden Dawn [B Side Of When You Were Mine]