Spiritualized

Spiritualized is an English indie band that was formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce (also known as J.Spaceman), after the spectacular demise of his Spacemen 3 outfit. The membership of Spiritualized changes from album to album, with Pierce being the only constant factor.

Related Topics:
English - Indie - 1990 - Rugby, Warwickshire - Jason Pierce - Spacemen 3

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The first Spiritualized release was a space rock-esque cover of The Troggs' 'Any Way That You Want Me' in 1990, a record which heralded the official split of Spacemen 3 following contractual wrangles over the band's name. Of the final Spacemen 3 line up, bassist Will Carruthers, drummer Jonny Mattock and session guitarist Mark Refoy joined Pierce in the first phase of Spiritualized (for the debut LP, Lazer Guided Melodies), alongside his then girlfriend Kate Radley. None of the original line up remains - Carruthers tried for a solo career, Mattock played for a spell in The Breeders (and later Lupine Howl), Refoy formed Slipstream and Radley married Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. A later cohort of Spiritualized backing musicians formed Lupine Howl following summary dismissal by Pierce.

Related Topics:
The Troggs - The Breeders - Lupine Howl - Slipstream - The Verve

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The style of Spiritualized is best described as psychedelic rock, especially earlier albums like Lazer Guided Melodies and Pure Phase, which also incorporated a bit of the shoegazing style made popular by My Bloody Valentine's influential 1991 album, Loveless. The landmark Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space showed influences from African-American gospel and blues beginning to creep in, and wall of sound influences from Phil Spector and Brian Wilson began to predominate, which came to a head on Let It Come Down. Amazing Grace favoured a more stripped down sound with the gospel, blues, and soul influences heavier than ever.

Related Topics:
Psychedelic - Lazer Guided Melodies - Pure Phase - Shoegazing - My Bloody Valentine - Loveless - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space - African-American - Gospel - Blues - Wall of sound - Phil Spector - Brian Wilson - Let It Come Down - Amazing Grace

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