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Following the disbandment of band Spacemen 3, Jason Pierce one of the band’s frontmen invited the group’s bassist Will Carruthers, drummer Jonny Mattock, guitarist Mark Refoy and friend Steve Evans to form Spiritualized. The band’s recording debut came in 1990 with a cover of The Troggs’ “Anyway That You Want Me”. For the follow-up single release Kate Radley replaced Evans on keyboard and for the band’s debut full-length “Lazer Guided Melodies”. The album and its successor “Pure Phase” (1995) failed to generate much commercial or critical success, and saw the band become a three-piece with Pierce, Radley and bassist Sean Cook.
Spiritualized’s 1997 album “Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space” is where the band hit the big time. Voted NME’s album of the year, the release features a whole host of appearances including the Balanescu Quartet, The London Community Gospel Choir, Dr. John, Spring Heel Jack, and new drummer Damon Reece. Based on Jostein Gaarder’s philosophical novel “Sophie’s World” the album features the singles “Electricity”, “I Think I’m in Love” and “Come Together EP”.
Following the release and Pierce and Radley’s separation, Pierce fired Cook, Reece and Mike Mooney and Radley left of her own accord. To craft the band’s next release “Let It Come Down” (2001) Pierce recruited bassist Martin Shallards, drummer Kev Bales, percussionist Tom Edwards and guitarist Dogan. Subsequently Spiritualized has released the albums “Amazing Grace” in 2003, “Songs in A and E” in spring 2008 and “Sweet Heart Sweet Light” in March 2012.
Things to know about a Spiritualized show:
1. There is usually no conversation from the stage other than perhaps an acknowledgement of the band at the finale
2. Singer and sole permanent member, Jason 'Spaceman' Pierce will usually wear sunglasses and betray no emotion
3. There is usually a background hum along with a subtle throbbing synth sound running through the set that at first sounds like a feedback problem; just go with it
Spiritualized music leans heavily in two seemingly disparate directions:
1. Spiritual or Gospel Music like the universally-known 'Oh Happy Day'
2. Addiction and Drug Use It's only when you listen to the lyrics you realize it's hard to discern whether they refer to being in a state of Religious Rapture or being Stoned.
There are also lyrical references that can be construed as both missing your true love or Jonesing for a fix. When not singing genuinely heartbreaking ballads to a long lost love the band will kick into overdrive and head into balls-to-the-wall space-rock, cliched phrases and everything. Great stuff.
Sometimes they play as a straight up 5- to 8-piece rock band, but at other times they bring a gospel choir along for the ride and that's when you know it's going to be something special. It all works so incredibly well, and provides an almost religious experience. I took my friend to see them and she was in tears at the beauty of it all. She went a second time and was blown away to a greater degree when she realized it hadn't been a one-off and they are just that good.
Final thought: If they come to town to play their seminal album: 'Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space', do whatever it takes to see that show.
cleanden
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