The Chills – Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs (Fire)
The Chills have long held a special place in the indie music world, with frontman Martin Phillipps being the band’s constant, and driving creative force. Emerging from Dunedin, New Zealand, during the 1980s, the band quickly became a cornerstone of the iconic Dunedin sound.
Known for their jangly guitars, bittersweet melodies, and Phillipps‘ thoughtful lyrics, The Chills have maintained a devoted following despite never fully breaking into the mainstream. Their new double album, Spring Board, was initiated by Phillipps before his passing in July 2024 and has been completed by the final iteration of The Chills, with contributions from key New Zealand musicians such as Neil Finn and Hollie Fullbrook. The presence of these celebrated artists highlights the deep respect held for Phillipps across generations of New Zealand’s finest musicians. He was, in many ways, a musician’s musician—admired not only by fans but also by his peers for his vision, craftsmanship, and artistic integrity.
This new album features reimagined tracks from the band’s early years, balancing unfinished ideas with fresh inspiration. Several of the songs on Spring Board were first heard in the 1980s and exist as live recordings on Secret Box, a hard-to-find collection of rare and early material. The studio polish for this album reveals the tracks’ diversity and potential, highlighting Phillipps‘ evolving artistry. The project allowed Phillipps to revisit some of his formative songwriting, breathing new life into early work while adding to them the wisdom and perspective gained over his life and career.
Dolphins kicks off the album with a rush of indie guitars and lyrics reflecting on childhood and the passage of time. There is a dramatic urgency to the track, which, like several others, was a live cut on Secret Box. Songs like Learn to Try Again and And When You’re There also bring a raw energy, with pounding drums and Phillipps’ vocals delivered over scratchy guitar lines, maintaining The Chills‘ well-known fast-paced, jangly sound. Declaration continues this theme, a whirlwind of guitars and drums that feels like an exhilarating rush, drawing the listener into a heady, almost disorienting momentum.
A change in pace comes with Juicy Creaming Soda and I’ll Protect You. The former has a quieter start before swelling into a powerful, defiant anthem, while the latter is a soothing, atmospheric track enhanced by Shona Laing’s warm harmonies. Juicy Creaming Soda showcases the band’s versatility and ability to shift effortlessly between styles.
On the darker side, tracks like If This World Was Made for Me and Meet My Eyes create an eerie tension, combining hypnotic synths with unsettling lyrics, the latter offering a rare glimpse of optimism amidst the melancholic tones. Meanwhile, Since You Left Me and Watching Old Home Movies are sharp bursts of indie rock, capturing The Chills‘ talent for combining upbeat music with reflective, sometimes sombre lyrics. The longest track, I Saw Your Silhouette, with its almost glam rock drum beat, showcases Phillipps‘ ability to integrate into The Chills sound an early 70s influence, as well as his ability to craft extended narratives within songs.
Influences from the later 70s inform The Other, a punky, bass-driven track, and Bad Eggs, a danceable indie number layered with glistening synths and Phillipps‘ soaring vocals. The album also delves into more experimental territory, with Lion Tamer offering a psychedelic journey with its echoing percussion and spoken-word vocals, while I Don’t Want to Live Forever delivers a jerky rhythm that rejects immortality with the life-affirming declaration, and the final, powerful words on the album, “I’m going to die alive.”
Spring Board, highlights the breadth, depth, and development of Phillipps’ songbook, demonstrating his deftness in blending indie rock, punk, and psychedelic influences into a style that remains distinctly “The Chills”. On this album, unfinished sketches from the band’s early days are now fully realised tracks, showcasing his craftsmanship and creative vision. The album feels like a fitting chapter in a legacy defined by thoughtful lyrics, captivating melodies, and an ever-present sense of yearning. The Chills may not have received the widespread acclaim they deserve, but for those who have followed Phillipps’ journey, this record is a reminder of his remarkable talent and a celebration of a career and life filled with passion and resilience until the end. Whether for already devoted fans of The Chills or those discovering Phillipps‘ work for the first time, Spring Board offers a vibrant testament to his enduring impact on music.
John Bradbury
Limited Edition Gold 2xLP, Standard 2xLP and 2xCD
+ Martin Phillipps Scrap Book (Fire Website/Bandcamp Exclusive Bundle)
Order URL: https://TheChills.lnk.to/
