April 5, 2023 Playlist

Spiritualized "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" (1997)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Spiritualized "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space"  1997 (UK)
A few months ago we finally added a Spacemen 3 album to the hall of Classics, so here's one of the groovy successor bands to that influential group. Spacemen 3 was led by two singer/songwriter guitarists: Sonic Boom (Peter Kember) and J. Spaceman (Jason Pierce). When S3 split up, Kember created a project called Spectrum which is heavy on drones and electronics (like krautrock) while Pierce called his new group "Spirtualized" probably because he was the one who brought the blues, garage rock, and even gospel elements to the Spacemen 3 sound. In addition to the shoegazer aesthetic (long songs with few chords), Spiritualized also maintained the drug references from the earlier band, though with a twist. While Spacemen 3 recalled the sixties "street drug" scene (acid, speed, smack), Spiritualized imagery more often references prescription pharmaceuticals. I think "where there's so much smoke there must be some fire" as far as all the drug references in this music, but it also seems clear that pharmaceutical nirvana is being used as a metaphor throughout these songs. They are romantic, soulful, earnest, and so full of pain - the singer seeks a chemical escape from all that pain because he feels too much (click the album cover for a review with some of the gritty details behind this particular record). Spiritualized albums have continued in this vein up to the present day (most recent LP was 2022), but I feel that their third album Ladies And Gents is their most potent dose of ecstasy and woe.
(N) = New Release
(R) = Listener Request
(M) = Mixed together
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Amon Düül IIWie Der Wind Am Ende Einer Strasse
("Like The Wind At The End Of A Street")		Wolf City1972Germany
FaustGiggy SmileFaust IV1973Germany
The StoogesDirtFunhouse1970USA
StereolabGolden BallTransient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements1993UK/France
 
 
The Damned Beware Of The ClownDarkadelic (N - forthcoming album)
2023 (EARMUSIC)UK
Guided By Voices Cousin JackieLa La Land (N)
2023 (GBV Inc.)USA
Glitter Wizard Pogo TonightKiss The Boot EP (N)2023 (Kitten Robot)USA
Ins Kino Box KiteIns Kino 2 EP (N)2023 (self released)USA
Bobbie Lovesong Oranic OrangeOn The Wind (N)2023 (Woodsist)USA
Unknown Mortal Orchestra DragV (N)
2023 (Jagjaguwar)New Zealand
BABYMETAL BelievingThe Other One (N)2023 (Babymetal Records
/Toy's Factory)		Japan
   
 
SpiritualizedCome TogetherLadies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1997UK
SpiritualizedI Think I'm In LoveLadies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1997UK
Spiritualized The Mainline SongEverything Was Beautiful (N)2022 (Fat Possum)UK
SpiritualizedElectricityLadies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1997UK
Mercury RevTrickle DownBoces1993USA
   
 
GOZUManimal (R)Equilibrium2018USA
Stoned Jesus Season Of The WitchFather Light (N)2023 (Season Of Mist)Ukraine
MelvinsAt The StakeStoner Witch1994USA
NirvanaSon Of A Gun (The Vaselines)Incesticide (compilation)rec. 1990USA
Cornershop7:20 AM Juliander ShereWoman's Gotta Have It1995UK
   
 
SpectrumThe Drunk Suite --> Phase Me Out (Gently)Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)1992UK
Ravi ShankarRaga: Ahit LalitTwo Raga Moods1967India
   
 
Jiro Inagaki & Soul MediaPut It Where You Want ItIn The Groove1973Japan
Jiro Inagaki & Soul MediaScratchFunky Stuff1975Japan
Back to playlists         Back to main