Bio:
The Chills were one of New Zealand's most iconic guitar pop bands of any era. They started out in the '80s, making a consistent series of chiming, hook-laden guitar pop records for the Flying Nun label, then bumping the production values up for a couple albums (notably 1990's Submarine Bells) on Slash. The band's songs and arrangements were constructed with interweaving guitar hooks and vocal harmonies, creating a lush sound that never falls into cloying sentimentality. The Chills' personnel changed frequently with the only constant member being singer-songwriter Martin Phillipps, the band's founder. When he hit some health roadblocks in the '90s, the band took an extended break and Phillipps made music only sporadically before returning in the 2010s for a series of strong comeback albums -- including 2021's Scatterbrain -- which stand with the band's best work to date.
Martin Phillipps died on July 28, 2024 at the age of 61.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, here is my tribute to Martin Phillipps following his unexpected passing back in July. This collection features songs from the 4 albums and various EPs/singles released since "Heavenly Pop Hits" was issued in 1994. This anthology is bookended by two songs originally written in the early 1980s. A live version of "Lost in Space", recorded in 1982, first appeared on "Secret Box" which was released in 2001. A studio version didn't surface until 2017, when it was issued as part of a limited edition Record Store Day 7", alongside a new track, "Rocket Science." Both songs are now available on The Chills' Bandcamp page.
This collection concludes with a 2014 re-recording of one of their most iconic songs, "Pink Frost," originally recorded in 1982 and released as a single in 1984. The reason for this new version explained by Phillipps himself:
"At the end of the day, it's my composition and I can record it as many times as I choose to! It is by no means meant to replace that very special original recording but it will sit proudly alongside it as one of the many approaches that could be taken with this most evocative and atmospheric song. I hope people will enjoy it in the spirit of it being a fresh and alternative companion piece to that original marvelous moment in time captured on tape many years ago."
I guess I can't argue with that! While I’ll always prefer the original, I think the intro on "Pink Frost 13" is far superior. As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy!
1. Lost in Space (3:18)
2. Worlds Within Worlds (3:21)
3. You Can Understand Me (3:16)
4. Warm Waveform (4:10)
5. In Harmony (3:26)
6. Molten Gold (3:21)
7. Little Boy (2:50)
8. Pyramid / When the Poor Can Reach the Moon (8:02)
9. Luck or Loveliness (3:13)
10. Lies, Lies, Lies (2:11)
11. Sunburnt (3:39)
12. February (2:25)
13. No One Knows Better Than Me (2:15)
14. Scatterbrain (2:39)
15. The Greatest Guide (3:17)
16. True Romance (3:22)
17. America Says Hello (5:05)
18. Rocket Science (2:45)
19. Walk on the Beach (2:25)
20. Bad Sugar (3:12)
21. Premonition (2:52)
22. Caught in My Eye (3:02)
23. Pink Frost 13 (5:01)
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