REVIEW: Spiritualized, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating
In Space
I was hunting around the local record shop a while back, looking for something new, and came across the most amazing packaging for a CD I've ever seen in my life. Imagine a CD done up as a prescription drug. Like, "Use only as directed by a physician (see enclosed leaflet)/Store in a dry place/Keep out of reach of children/Play one twice daily," and so forth. The enclosed leaflet continues the theme. Needless to say I snapped it up without having the faintest idea of what it would sound like. (Ed. note: The regular American version doesn't look quite as cool, but just like a normal disc).
To tell the whole story, that's not quite true. I had an idea, given the name of the band and album, that it would be something ambient, which, incidentally, would have been fine with me. But it turned out to be something quite different. Jason Pierce, leader of Spiritualized and one-time member of Spacemen 3, has come up with a majestic album that claims a heritage of the pure melody of Brian Wilson and the nihilism of Hank Williams. Easy Rider meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (the book, not the film). In short, one of the most awesome things I've ever heard in my life.
I initially dubbed the album onto tape so that I could listen to it while driving, however, the dynamic range of the album is so wide that I found myself constantly ramping up the volume, only to slam it down minutes later as the car filled with a wall of sound.
Consider "I Think I'm In Love". Long, smooth intro consisting of a sustained note on a keyboard, a riff plucked out on a bass guitar, a slightly wah-wah electric guitar, and to gather you in to the fold, a gorgeous harmonica and breathy latter-day Beach Boys vocals. And then, exhale, a second of silence, inhale, and we're off. In comes the percussion, and yeah, well, we're floating in space. And then comes the really clever part, the lyrics, variations on a theme of "Think I'm your friend... probably just lonely", "Think I can rock'n'roll...probably just twistin'", "Think I want to tell the world... probably ain't listening". In as much as Nancy Reagan just never got it, it's easy enough send a message to kids to not take drugs, just say something they can decrypt: "Think I'm the life and soul... probably just snorting".
The most engaging aspect of the album is the play of contradictions. Waves of outright distortion on a "Broken Heart", thrown upon a wailing arythmic saxophone on "The Individual", only to cut back to rich, soaring violins, mournful horns and aching, trembling vocals. Once again, we are floating in space.
Then there's the heavy jamming on the instrumental track "No God Only Religion", with guitars that go beserk, held in check by the brass section. I still find myself reaching to turn down the volume, out of respect for the neighbours.
After that, as a sort of catharsis, Spiritualized offers us a moment of respite on "Cool Waves", with nothing less than a full gospel choir, flutes, the whole business.
Sadly, after seventy minutes, the album draws to a close all too soon, with the bluesy "Cop shoot cop...". Songs don't get much better than this. Tambourine, piano and handclaps rolling along, bass guitar noodling around, laconic vocals. It's all very laid back and then boom! in comes an electric guitar spitting venom and fire. Get spiritualized today, it's bezerk. And no, I'm still not cured. After a couple of months of listening, I still need my daily dose.
