Got A Fever Inside My Soul

This past week I have mostly been listening to Spiritualized.

Last Thursday's gig at the ABC is possibly the best SPZ concert I have ever seen and an early contender for gig of the year, it will have to be something extra special to knock it from the podium. The band were note perfect even during the wig-outs and although I thought that the sound was a bit low for the first couple of tracks it was soon turned up to a good level. The set list was nigh on impeccable, every tune just seemed to fit and I'm glad that the two backing singers seem to now be a permanent feature as they certainly add something special to the mix.

Although they didn't play the new album in it's entirety as was the case last October, the tracks they did play were all excellent and I'm waiting for this release more eagerly than I have for anything else for a good few years as I reckon it's going to be a belter and I urge you all to go out and buy it on the 16th April. You will not be disappointed.

Here is one of the highlights of last weeks gig, shit they were all highlights even the lengthy encore,  Cop Shoot Cop a track which it must be said I have had a certain ambivalance towards in the past.

 Spiritualized - Lay Back In The Sun

Huh?

Off to see Spiritualized tonight, directly after Max's Parents Evening. Must admit, that I have been looking forward to this since October when I saw the band preview the new album, nearly in it's entirety at the Queens Hall. That tour got quite a bit of negative comments but the Edinburgh gig was splendid, although a little on the cramped side for the Spiritualized sound which I think will sound even better in the ABC.

The new album Huh? is released on the 16th April. The week prior to this the single Hey Jane will be released on vinyl but if you can't wait, it is a belter of a track, it is available now as a download from the usual places.

Here is a version of the single which the band performed during the second half of the gig that night. The version posted is from the Other Voices Festival from the start of this year which was streamed live on the Guardian's website.

Spiritualized - Hey Jane (Live)

So Long

Davy the Ghost has an interesting wee series on the go over at his,  where he is finding reasons to be cheerful during this quite glum month. Me being the miserable bastard that I am, am not really that enthused by London buses or random strangers smiling at me. I have to have something a bit more tangible to cheer me up or something to really look forward to. Failings on my part, I know.

One thing that I have been looking forward to ever since October is the prospect of the new Spiritualized album. Jason Pierce being, well Jason Piece decided that the whole set would consist of the new unheard album and very good it was too.

On the 4th December Spiritualized played a set consisting of much of the new album at the other voices festival in Dingle, County Kerry which the Guardian streamed live on their website. The tracks sounded as good on this occasion as they had two months previous in the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. Here is what was one of my highlights from both performances and something I am looking forward to hearing on vinyl and live again in March at the ABC in Glasgow.

Spiritualized - So Long (Live at The Other Voices Festival 04-12-11)

Do It All Over Again

I'm off to see Spiritualized tonight in the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh, not the best venue in the world but still, I'm excited. It's been a couple of years since the last time I so Pierce and his henchmen. The album release has been pushed back until March next year when there will be a further round of gigs, this time the ABC in Glasgow a much better venue. I'm still hoping to hear some new material this evening.

Here is a laid back BBC session of Do It Over Again, originally on the Let It Come Down album.

Spiritualized - Do It All Over Again

Any Way That You Want Me

My first introduction to this song was probably the same as most people my age, through Spiritualized's first single. I realised that it was a cover as the writing credits were for a certain Chip Taylor but it was a good few years until I heard the Troggs version which to me was far inferior to the Spiritualized one. I was not prepared for the Evie Sands version recorded in 1969 when I first heard it in the late nineties which, frankly, pisses all over the other two .

I only knew Evie Sands for her version of Picture Me Gone but to be honest I always preferred the Madeline Bell version. But she definitely nailed this song,  I'm quite surprised that it took me so long to stick it up on here.

Evie Sands - Any Way That You Want Me.

Please Stop!

The kitchen table and every other suface in the room is strewn with empty or half drunk bottles, cans and glasses.

A few weeks ago L decreed that we were going to have a small soiree, for no reason that I can ascertain. Maybe she was sick of the kids leaving a trail of devastation in their wake and thought that it would be a good idea to let some adults and I use the term loosely, in on the act.

Anyhoo, last night they came, drank, ate chili and A's wonderful Victoria sponge and left not really a trail of devastation but a heck of a lot of clearing up to do which I just don't feel up to at the moment as somebody is using a pneumatic drill on the inside of my skull, oh and the kids are due back from Gran's anytime now.

All I want to do is get back under the duvet with an ice cold bottle of Irn Bru.

Spiritualized -Cool Waves (Live in Iceland)

Sunday Morning

I've just been over at Earth Capitol, where Artog has posted a rather lovely version of  Transparent Radiation by Spacemen 3, so to compliment that, I thought that I would post this.

Spiritualized - Feel So Sad (Rhapsodies)

Spacemen 3

Never really took much notice of Spacemen 3 when they were still a band. I think that may have been down to the fact that the first thing that I bought was Recurring an album which was really 2 solo mini albums as Pierce and Kember contributed a side each working in isolation. I much preferred the side by Pierce and therefore bought the Spiritualized albums but never really bothered to go back and explore the earlier work the reason for which now escapes me but probably has a lot to do with the 90's for me, revolving round BPMs and DJs as opposed to rock bands.

My interest in them was reawakened after Pierce's 3rd album as Spiritualized, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space* which blew me away when it was first released in 1997 and still sounds as good today as it did then. I decided it was time to delve into the Spaceman's back catalogue and what riches I found there.

The Velvet Underground are probably the most obvious influences but also there are a lot of pointers in the direction of the Nuggets era American garage rock sound and also a bit of Can in the mix as well. The drug and Jesus references are present  as they are with Spiritualized. The sound is wonderful, the pounding drums the feedback and the heavy use of effect pedals one minute and the next the most delicate guitar and fragile voice. It really is music to take drugs to if you are that way inclined but sounds just as good when you are straight.

The original version of the track posted here can be found on the second Spacemen 3 album, The Perfect Prescription. I have posted a version from the live lp Live In Europe and the blistering 12 minute version from the gig at the ABC last October which was absolutely amazing, the quality isn't brilliant but it's good enough.

Spacemen 3 - Take Me To The Other Side

Spiritualized - Take Me To The Other Side

* LAGWAFIS will be re released later this month the way it was intended  back in 1997 (before the Presley estate took exception to the King's music being linked with drugs), to celebrate it's 12th anniversay  (?) with another couple of discs containing outtakes and alternate versions.

Quiet Please!

It's Sunday and I have a hangover. This used to be a fairly regular occurrence but not recently. I should know better that to drink more than 2 glasses of red wine. I always feel like shit if I drink red wine all night.

I need something mellow and soothing which will not tax my brain too much or make it throb more than it all ready is.

This track by Spiritualized fits the bill nicely.

Jason Pierce and Spiritualized get a fair deal of criticism for the themes of God, redemption and drugs in their music which I've never really understood as with the name Spiritualized and Pierce being well known for his drug consumption he is hardly going to sing about picking up girls in a sports car while cruising about New Jersey or somewhere is he?

Spiritualized - Feel So Sad (Rhapsodies)

As an added bonus the original mix of Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space which was blocked from release by the estate of Elvis Presley, something to do with not wanting Presley image being associated with drug taking, as if.

Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (Original Elvis Mix)