Skip to content
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

psychedelic Scene

psychedelic Scene Magazine

  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
Navbar
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts

The Psych Ward–Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized

PrevPreviousCalm Ya Farm by The Murlocs–Album Review
NextInterview with Cream Lyricist Pete BrownNext
  • Rob Cavenagh
  • May 19, 2023
  • 9:38 am

The Psych Ward–Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized

The modern music industry is littered with acrimonious breakups – the most renowned seeming to be the end of musical duos. The decline and eventual dissolution of Spacemen 3 featuring Peter Kember (aka Sonic Boom) and Jason Pierce (aka J Spaceman) took place over several years, several releases, and several record labels.

 

The creation of Spiritualized’s first LP Lazer Guided Melodies was a gradual realization as the two primary members of Spacemen 3 were going in different musical (and often literal) directions while recording their final LP Recurring. Different directions to the point of occupying separate studio sessions as well as opposite sides of the same LP. Jason Pierce’s expansive and deliberate compositions tended to grow and reach climaxes with structure whereas those of his counterpart were more free-form.

 

Lazer Guided Melodies could be thought of as the “lost” third side of Recurring but to do so would be a disservice to the work. Unencumbered by creative conflict in the studio, Pierce was able to craft uplifting and expressive tracks that were more vocal-heavy than some of his previous work as well as more akin to pop song structure.

Lazer Guided Melodies album cover

“You Know It’s True” starts the album on a very literal lyrical tack: “You know I’ve been here before…and I don’t like it anymore.” Gentle and pastoral at the outset, the tune brings some of the fuzz and tremolo Spacemen 3 were known for into the mix for a mini climax near the end only to resolve back to the softer introduction and repetition of the first line.

 

“I Want You” is an homage to the Lou Reed structure of building a simple musical and vocal theme to a climax several times and ultimately to a grand finish (cf. “Heroin”).  “Run” is a loose interpretation of J.J. Cale’s 1971 song “Call Me the Breeze,” further lyrical stamp on the breakup: “I ain’t got me nobody, I ain’t got me no load…”

 

One of the many standout tracks on Lazer Guided Melodies is “Shine A Light.” Intentionally literal or not, the lyrics echo the Latin of the Catholic Mass. Following the “build and build and then breakdown” structure he has become known for, Jason Spaceman’s first solo flight is his own Gilgamesh.

Gallery

Recent Articles

A colorful mushroom in the desert with the skyline of the United Arab Emirates in the background
An Arab Nation’s Psychedelic Awakening

An Arab Nation’s Psychedelic Awakening

•
May 21, 2025
High Moon Records Releases Just Like Gold: Live At The Matrix by The Final Solution

High Moon Records Releases Just Like Gold: Live At The Matrix by The Final Solution

•
May 18, 2025
Silhouette image of a person in the lotus position in front of a cosmic vortex
Choosing Your Guide

Choosing Your Guide

•
May 15, 2025
PrevPreviousCalm Ya Farm by The Murlocs–Album Review
NextInterview with Cream Lyricist Pete BrownNext
Loading...
  • Features

An Arab Nation’s Psychedelic Awakening

  • Michelle Beehari
  • May 21, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Music

High Moon Records Releases Just Like Gold: Live At The Matrix by The Final Solution

  • Arlyn Ibarra
  • May 18, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Features

Choosing Your Guide

  • Stephan Kerby, Amber Kerby LMFT
  • May 15, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Music

Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders Release New Album Synchronous Orbit

  • Allie Iverson
  • May 12, 2025
  • One Comment
  • Columns, Music, Vinyl Relics

Vinyl Relics: Underground by The Electric Prunes

  • Farmer John
  • May 9, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Acid Lore, Columns

Acid Lore: Mickey Mouse LSD

  • Paul Weatherhead
  • May 6, 2025
  • No Comments

Gallery

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Sign up for our Newsletter

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on trending stories, featured music articles, artist highlights and much more!

Contact Us

psychedelic Scene

Magazine

  • Home
    Home
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
  • Art
    Art
  • Books
    Books
  • Music
    Music
  • Film
    Film
  • Interviews
    Interviews
  • Reviews
    Reviews
  • Lists
    Lists
  • Features
    Features
Copyright @ 2025 All Rights Reserved Psychedelic Scene Magazine

Designed & Developed by: SYNC Digital Management

psychedelic Scene

Magazine

Learn More About Psychedelic Sacred Sexuality

Buy The Book On Amazon