Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

Spiritualized

album cover

The Path to Illumination, with Many Twists and Turns

This album's cover is designed to resemble the label commonly affixed to prescription drugs in the U.K. The back warns "For aural administration only. . .. Use only as directed by a physician." Just about every song recommends drugs, legal or otherwise, as helpful in easing the pain of a devastating romantic setback. Or to obliterate nasty memories.

But this is no ordinary drug record. Its twelve elaborately sculpted tracks, many using symphonic orchestration and/or a gospel choir, form a kind of journal—an inquiry into how far one should go to relieve (or temporarily forget about) distress. Principal songwriter Jason Pierce, whose love affair with interstellar possibility began when he was part of the minimalist British rock band Spacemen 3, starts out by seeking to inspire warm fellow feeling, via an old-fashioned idealistic rock anthem called "Come Together." (No relation to the Beatles' tune.) Then he tries introspection ("All of My Thoughts"). He longs for companionship. He spends some time in pursuit of more abstract notions (the swirling instrumental "No God Only Religion"). By the last song, "Cop Shoot Cop," he's poking around some shady alleys, seeking transcendence in the blues.

Though mind-altering substances may be at work, this music isn't gratuitously spacey. Cosmic, yes, but in the old-school sense: Here is a grand sound ideally suited to the perpetually unfinished wrestling match with the imponderables of life. Gospel is referenced overtly several times, and Ladies and Gentlemen shares gospel's quest to know and understand greater powers. But as he writes his hymns for lost souls, Pierce isn't seeking comfortable numbness—more like illumination. The drugs are one means. This fervent music is another, even more powerful, one. And there are no nasty side effects.

Genre: Rock
Released: 1997, Arista
Key Tracks: "No God Only Religion," "Electricity," "Cop Shoot Cop"
Catalog Choice: Laser Guided Melodies
Next Stop: Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
Book Page: 732

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Comments:

#1 from Jay Fienberg, Seattle - 09/05/2008 2:48

I am Spiritualized fan, and I definitely consider this to be one of their seminal albums. But, I am also surprised (impressed) that you included this in 1,000 Recordings. So, I am really curious to see what you wrote / read about why you included this album!

#2 from Grant Purcell, Ruleville, MS - 07/06/2009 12:34

This is an impressive album. The sound is so thick, making each listen a new experience as you notice different elements to each song. What surprised me is that you did not include “The Perfect Prescription” by Spacemen 3 (Pearce’s earlier band) in your list. I understand that Spacemen 3 is one of the most overlooked bands of the rock era, but figured someone with your devotion to music would have discovered this band and recognized its brilliance and ingenuity.

1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die