The first Spiritualized release was a space rock-esque cover of 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(his replacement was John Coxon) and Radley married Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. A later cohort of Spiritualized backing musicians - Sean Cook, Damon Reece and Michael Mooney - formed Lupine Howl following summary dismissal by Pierce.
Sax player Ray 'Moonshake' Dickaty was added to the lineup in 1997, and Gregg Hale (guitar) also augmented the band in 1997 and 1998.
Retaining only keyboardist Thighpaulsandra (keyboards)a replacement for Kate Radley, Jason Pierce then debuted a new (and current) line up of Spiritualized, introducing classical percussionist Tom Edwards and former Julian Cope string arranger Martin Schellard on bass guitar. Completing the new Spiritualized line-up were guitarist Doggen of Brain Donor and the Julian Cope band, and drummer Kevin 'Kevlar' Bales who is also ex-Julian Cope band. Ray Dickaty departed in 2003, quitting to play in the free-jazz Solar Fire Trio. The remaining line-up finished recording the album Songs In A&E in Nottingham and London.
The musical style of Spiritualized can perhaps be best described as psychedelic rock, especially earlier albums like Lazer Guided Melodies and Pure Phase, which also incorporated elements of the shoegazing style made popular by 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.
For several years (ending in or about 1999), Spiritualized were the only active artist signed to Dedicated Records, a British independent label which had, by then, been acquired by Spiritualized's then-label, Arista Records.
On 15 June 1997, Spiritualized became the last band to play at Factory Records' Manchester nightclub The Haçienda.
After several years of work and Pierce's serious illness in July 2005,the album, Songs in A&E was released on 26 May 2008 in the UK, and on 27 May 2008 in the US. The first single from the 18-track album was "Soul On Fire". The release was backed by an Electric Mainlines UK tour which began in May. Pierce has also scored Harmony Korine's 2008 film Mister Lonely.
In October and December 2009 the band performed 1997's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series.
After more than two years in the making, while Pierce was undergoing experimental chemotherapy for a liver disease, and including a year long period of mixing, Sweet Heart Sweet Light was released in April 2012, on Double Six Records. The band had already played some of this new material over the past 3 years but not much else was known about the content of the album. The album cover, an octagon surrounding the word "Huh?" on a plain white background, is a reference to the working title of the album. In an interview regarding the new release it was revealed that the album would "embrace" more poppy songs compared to previous albums. In the same interview, Jason Pierce also said that the album was partly inspired by the experiences of performing Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space live in its entirety.
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Spiritualized Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting strong today, a giant step each day
All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away
Getting strong today, a giant step each day
I've been told only fools rush in, only fools rush in
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away)
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
But I don't believe, I don't believe
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away)
I could still fall in love With you
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
I will love you till I die, and I will love you all the time
So please put your sweet hand in mine
And float in space and drift in time
All my time until I die, we'll float in space just you and I
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away)
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
I will love you till I die, and I will love you all the time
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away)
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
All my time until I die, we'll float in space just you and I
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
I will love you till I die, and I will love you all the time
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
I'll love you to death, I guess that's what you get
And I don't know where we are all going to
Love don't get stranger, it is what it is
And I don't know where we are all going to
Everything happens today, and that's what you get
And I don't know where we are all going to
All my time until I die, we'll float in space just you and I
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away)
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
I will love you till I die, and I will love you all the time
(All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away)
(Getting strong today, a giant step each day)
The lyrics to Spiritualized's "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" reflect the yearning for love to take away the pain and struggles of life. The repetition of "All I want in life is a little bit of love to take the pain away" emphasizes the desire for love to be the answer to all of life's problems. The lyrics also reflect the idea of personal growth, with the line "Getting strong today, a giant step each day" indicating the desire to overcome obstacles and progress in life.
The lyrics also touch on the fear of falling in love, with the line "I've been told only fools rush in, but I don't believe, I don't believe." The repetition of "I will love you till I die, and I will love you all the time" emphasizes the depth and intensity of the love being expressed. The song ends with a sense of uncertainty about the future, with the line "And I don't know where we are all going to" reflecting the idea that life is unpredictable and unknown.
Overall, the lyrics of Spiritualized's "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" reflect themes of love, personal growth, fear, and uncertainty. It expresses a desire for love to be the answer to life's problems, while acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want in life's a little bit of love to take the pain away
The singer desires love to relieve their suffering in life.
Getting strong today, a giant step each day
The singer is working on self-improvement and making progress.
I've been told only fools rush in, only fools rush in
The singer has heard that rushing into love is foolish and dangerous.
But I don't believe, I don't believe
The artist does not agree with the cautionary advice about love.
I could still fall in love With you
Despite the risks, the artist is open to falling in love with the person addressed in the song.
I will love you till I die, and I will love you all the time
The singer promises to love the addressed person for the rest of their life.
So please put your sweet hand in mine
The singer asks the addressed person to hold hands with them.
And float in space and drift in time
The artist imagines a dreamy, otherworldly state of being with the addressed person.
I'll love you to death, I guess that's what you get
The artist acknowledges the intensity of their love for the addressed person.
And I don't know where we are all going to
The artist is uncertain about the future of their relationship and life in general.
Love don't get stranger, it is what it is
The singer accepts that love can be unpredictable but is what it is.
Everything happens today, and that's what you get
The artist reflects on how life is unpredictable and events can happen unexpectedly.
All my time until I die, we'll float in space just you and I
The singer imagines spending the rest of their life with the addressed person, in a space of emotional connection and companionship.
Lyrics © Raleigh Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON PIERCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind