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Spiritualized – Songs in A&E
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Much has been made of Jason ‘Spaceman’ Pierce’s fortnight in intensive care with double pneumonia back in 2005, and its influence on Spiritualized’s sixth studio album. And while there are some obvious nods to his hospitalisation (the ventilator on ominously titled ‘Death Take Your Fiddle’, for example), Songs in A&E is really much like any other Spiritualized record.
The songs are generally either slow-building growers with lush orchestration and bluesy gospel choirs, or garage rockers – but what’s noticeable here is that the emotional backbone of the songs is the strongest since 1997’s spellbinding Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space.
The seven-minute ‘Baby I’m Just A Fool’ is a jaunty uptempo Dylan-esque ditty, complete with doo-wop backing vocals and a classy orchestral refrain. ‘Soul On Fire’ could be the closest that Pierce has come to writing a straight ahead pop anthem – if it wasn’t for the croaked “I got a hurricane inside my veins and I want to stay forever”, you could almost be listening to Oasis or The Verve. There’s the usual dose of edgy garage rock in the shape of ‘You Lie You Cheat’ – a slurred attack on an unfaithful lover as distorted guitars squeal all around.
In short, Spiritualized are back to full strength: revitalised, and in rude health.
Chris Nye-Browne
