I think I'm in love. Spiritualized's second live album is almost a
definitive guide to their musical sketching of aural paintings. Each
song ends in a cacophony of noise or an unrecognisable melody before a
shimmering chord can be heard above it all, aural layers are added and
suddenly it's another song.
CD1 mixes the underrated genius of "Lazer Guided Melodies" and "Pure
Phase" with the immediacy of songs like 'Electricity' and 'The
individual'. CD2 is almost a microcosm of life. Jason Pierce realises
there's 'No God Only Religion', suffers a 'Broken heart', urges us to
'Come Together', realises 'I think I'm in love', espouses his belief
that a cop shooting another cop leads to his reincarnation before
finally experiencing a happy day.
One of the most disappointing things about the album is its packaging.
Having been treated before to a glow in the dark cover, a jewel box,
and a pill packet, the plain red box is an anti-climax. Perhaps the
Spaceman's nervous exhaustion is impairing his creativity. 'Broken
Heart' though is the major letdown; it never gets close to the
emotional intensity of the "Ladies and Gentleman..." version.
For Spititualized the drugs do work; without them their music could
never exist. Keyboardist Kate Radley, whose non-appearances are
becoming increasingly inconsequential, would do well to tell that to
hubby Richard Ashcroft.
by Neil Callanan