Things We Did On Earth
by Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy
REVIEWS and COMMENTS
From the aptly named "Reverie" and its delicate, chiming swathes of guitar and lightly drawn musical lines to "Dysporia's" scalding and squaling intensity, and from "Turkey's" mix of escapist, romantic lyrics and arabesque sounds to the folk-infused "Things We Did On Earth," the album covers a lot of sonic ground. But as it does, the songs found here still feel consistent and connected, not always directly or even necessarily sonically, but always artistically and emotionally.
There is an old cliche about quantity and quality, suggesting that you can't have both. Here, however, are two musicians able to work at a rate easily labeled prolific, whilst hitting creative benchmarks that others can only dream of.
The latest album from Kilbey Kennedy, "Things We Did On Earth," builds upon the Australian duo's experimental sound palette as it arrives like a drifting transmission from deep space. intimate, melancholic, and strangely comforting, Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy continue refining the atmospheric neo-psychedelia that has defined their collaborations for over a decade, but this time the music feels even more immersive and emotionally direct.
Kilbey's poetic mysticism and Kennedy's ambient architecture have always gone well together, but Things We Did On Earth plays like a completely unified vision. Kennedy's production is lush but restrained, layering shimmering guitars, soft synthesizer currents, spectral percussion, and subtle electronic textures into an almost cinematic dreamscape.
With Things We Did On Earth, Kilbey Kennedy have once again demonstrated why their partnership remains one of the most fascinating and artistically rewarding collaborations in contemporary alternative music. The album is immersive, poetic, adventurous, and emotionally profound—a collection of songs that explores the beauty and fragility of existence through extraordinary songwriting and masterful musicianship. For fans of The Church, All India Radio, David Bowie, Elbow, Genesis, or David Byrne, this album is essential listening. Dreamlike yet grounded, expansive yet intimate, Things We Did On Earth is a powerful reminder that some artistic partnerships only grow richer with time—and that Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy continue to create music that feels timeless, meaningful, and utterly unique.
Not only does this album channel some of the very best neo-psych and progressive influences, but it also feels completely fresh and original, serving as a powerful introduction to the duo's creative chemistry and unmistakable personality. Fans of artists such as The Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, Beach House or Dead Rituals will feel at home here!
Full Review (Spanish)
Things We Did On Earth is presented as the sum of a path traveled, a supposed climax where mortality, dreaming and ghost realities converge. It could be an ending, yes... but it also sounds like an echo: the same one we heard fifteen years ago, with the same tones, the same evasions and the same promise that this is the last thing that never finishes coming.
The album manages to create a persistent emotional state. It doesn't end when the last song is over; it stays with you, floating in your room, reminding you that, despite all the noise and fury of our world, there are still places where beauty is the only currency. It is a sound will of what it means to be human in this little pale blue dot, and an invitation to celebrate each of "the things we did on Earth" before moving on to the next realm. A triumph of intuition over engineering, of emotion over technique, and a reminder that Kilbey & Kennedy's spaceship will always have a place for those who still dare to daydream.
Rating: 100
Such a layered, beautiful album. It feels less like a concept album and more like a full-on rock opera. I see the whole thing as a staged musical unfolding scene by scene.
Kilbey is fantastic here—both vocally and lyrically. Martin Kennedy remains a master of atmosphere on guitar and synth, and the guest musicians and singers add depth and color throughout. I especially love the use of the Ney on "Turkey," which gives the album another unique texture.
Like the best Kilbey/Kennedy albums, "Things We Did on Earth" doesn't just play—it transports. Romantic, mysterious, cinematic, and deeply human, it's one of the finest records either artist has been involved with.
Backseat Mafia Rating: 97%
In recent years, I've often written about the late-period creative resurgence of The Church — particularly the way those records embraced atmosphere and emotional ambiguity with renewed confidence. This album feels like a natural extension of that evolution, but stripped of even the remaining structural expectations of a traditional rock band format. What remains is pure mood, emotion and intuition.
By the closing moments, the album feels almost less like a collection of songs than a lingering emotional state. It's immersive, transportive and remarkably cohesive from beginning to end. This is Kilbey and Kennedy at their very best. Where on earth they go to from here, who knows.