The Chills

Following on from the initial tour announcement last week, The Chills announce a host more European shows for the summer, including a headline show in London on 24 July and a slot at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Commonwealth Games! This is their first European tour since 1996 and sees Martin Phillipps return with the most recent incarnation of The Chills which features James Dickson (Bass/Backing Vocals), Todd Knudson (Drums/Backing Vocals), Erica Stichbury (Violin/Backing Vocals) and Oli Wilson (Keyboards/Backing Vocals).

 They also reveal an up-to-date reworking of one of their most beloved songs, "Pink Frost"as a b-side to the 7" single release of “Molten Gold” (which was revealed last year as the first new material from The Chills in over a decade).

The Chills are a band from Dunedin, New Zealand fronted by the rare talent of Martin Phillipps. Originally formed in 1980, The Chills had a revolving cast of band members with Phillipps remaining the only constant. His knack for writing fantastic pop songs led to chart hits back home and a cult following around the world.  

“Molten Gold” was initially released digitally to coincide with Phillipps’ 50^th birthday, ladling his stirring vocal over chiming guitars and spring-breeze-fresh-sounding strings, this is quintessential Chills and a reinvigorated return to form for the indie luminaries who propelled the much celebrated ‘Dunedin Sound’.

“Pink Frost” was originally recorded in 1982 and has been performed at nearly every gig that the band has played since then.  It is a unique piece of music and it has always changed and evolved over the years as the various line-ups of the band have approached it in subtly different ways. The current line-up of The Chills has been stable for many years now and with the band realising that 'Pink Frost' had recently become something different and distinct again, it felt right to capture it once more in the studio – with tremendous results.

As Martin himself comments:

"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."

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