The Psych Ward–Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized
- 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.
“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.
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