The Illinois-based combo's full length debut, "The Kicks of Passion" (released 31 July 2007), sees Powerspace unleashing its own inimitable sound, a brightly colored mash-up of pure power pop and electronica-inspired invention. Tracks such as "Powerspace Snap Bracelet" and "Right On, Right Now" literally snap and crackle with the just-out-of-their-teens quartet's uncontainable charm and energy.
The Powerspace team came together back in 2005 at Ohio's Miami University. Guitarist Tom Schleiter and bassist Daniel McMahon, both of whom played in bands in their native burbs of Chicago, had long discussed making music together. A year older, Schleiter spent his freshman term at Miami working with drummer Kevin Kane in a local band, an experience the guitarist describes as "unsatisfying." He spent the next summer focusing on writing songs for an as-yet-undetermined new band. When he told McMahon what he'd been up to, the bassist suggested the two form a new combo upon Dan's arrival at school in the fall.
Once they began collaborating, the three musicians embarked on a search for a lead singer. While they were excited about this new musical outlet, they admit to treating their initial quest with a grain of salt.
They worked briefly with an avant-garde poet and a girl singer who was plagued by shyness, not a particularly helpful quality in a frontperson. Their personnel problem was solved on a car trip home from Miami, when Schleiter's mom suggested that their high school friend and fellow Miami U. student Alec Cyganowski might want to give singing a shot.
With Cyganowski behind the mic, Powerspace was complete. The band started playing shows around Miami University and Cincinnati and by the summer, felt ready to do some recording. Rather than simply cutting a standard issue demo, they decided to enlist producer Mark McClusky (Hit the Lights, Ludo, Scenes From a Movie), who McMahon worked with in one of his previous bands. They laid down five songs in five days, resulting in the "Houston, We Have a Party" EP.
The EP quickly brought Powerspace to the attention of major label bigwigs and weasels, all of whom began waving contracts under the band's noses. In the end, Powerspace inked with the label that most reflected their own aesthetic views and artistic goals – Fueled By Ramen.
Rather than splitting their focus between the band and their studies, Powerspace chose to take an indefinite breather from Miami University. They played a number of local gigs, sharing stages with such bands as June, Quietdrive, and 2*Sweet. More significantly, they spent endless time in their practice space, concentrating on their chosen craft.
By December 2006, they were ready to record, again opting to work with McClusky. But first, the producer needed the band to give him a hand setting up his new digs in Lincoln Park, dubbed "Dorisland," after McClusky's beloved pooch.
Powerspace spent much of the winter in the studio, carefully crafting what would be dubbed – for reasons the band prefers to keep close to the vest – "The Kicks of Passion." Taking off from such diverse influences as INXS, The Darkness, The Wrens, and Squarepusher, the album is bracingly creative, displaying Powerspace's multi-layered pop stance, a glamtastic sonic approach kissed with electro textures and metallic virtuosity.
"The Kicks of Passion" is alive with ingenious vigor, with soaring tracks like "It Smells Like Electricity In Here" evincing the band's artistic ambition. The skyscraping melodies and overall exuberance are counterpointed by deeply personal lyricism, often touched with a melancholy and reflection that the band attributes to its time at Miami U.
With "The Kicks of Passion" ready to go, Powerspace is turning its attention to playing out. Having spent much of the last year honing their craft, the band is full-on fired up about at last hitting the road and getting down with the kids.
Drummer Kevin Kane announced the band's break up on February 17, 2010.
The Remaining Members minus Alec are in a new band Bad City
Snap Bracelet
Powerspace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't write it out, but I'll show you what I mean
And the words, they will drip down the side of your cheek
And I'm able to read them when they spell out
Let's just pretend four syllables that
We keep on ignoring again and again
As if we never even meant it
All those thoughts inside your head
Can be reality
So let yourself believe
My life is a cross of a fire and a stampede
I burn inside you still run after me
Yeah, we'll find out
How it feels to burn alive
Oh, you and me girl
Let's set ourselves on fire
Baby let's leave them all for dead
All those thoughts inside your head
Can be reality
So let yourself believe
Oh yeah we don't care who finds out
Tonight is all that matters right now
Let's go once more down to the dance floor
Make me sell my soul for more
Baby let's leave them all for dead
All those thoughts inside your head
Can be reality
So let yourself believe
I feel your body radiate
In the lightning we create
So let yourself believe
Oh yeah we don't care who finds out
Tonight is all that matters right now
Let's go once more down to the dance floor
Make me sell my soul for more
The lyrics to "Powerspace Snap Bracelet" are vivid and poetic, playing with imagery and language to describe a relationship that's both unstable and intoxicating. The song starts with the singer on their knees, struck down by lightning, unable to put words to their feelings. They promise to "show you what I mean," and the words that follow -- "Let's Just Be Friends" -- are devastatingly simple. The singer acknowledges that they've ignored these four simple words before, caught up in a cycle of passion and confusion with their partner.
The imagery in the song is striking and emotive. The singer describes their life as "a cross / Of a fire and a stampede," which suggests both danger and intensity. They urge their partner to join them in setting themselves on fire, suggesting that they're both willing to burn for their love. The repeated refrain of "Let's leave them all for dead" reinforces the idea that the relationship is all-consuming, taking up all the singer's energy and attention.
Overall, "Powerspace Snap Bracelet" is a powerful and emotionally charged song about a tumultuous relationship that's hard to resist. The singer knows that they're caught up in something that's probably not good for them, but they're unable to pull away from the magnetic pull of their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Lightening Strikes Me Down
I feel electrified and overwhelmed by my emotions
I'm On my knees
I'm feeling vulnerable and powerless
I can't write it out
I can't express my feelings in words
But I'll show you what I mean
I'll express myself through actions instead of words
And the words they will drip down your cheeks
My actions will make you understand my feelings and make you emotional
And I'm able to read them out and they spell out
The emotions I provoke in you are clear and easy to read
"Lets Just Be Friends"
I'm afraid of losing you as a friend, so I'll settle for that
Four simple words that we keep ignoring
We both know we want more than just friendship, but we're afraid to admit it
Again and Again as we...(As is we never meant it)
We keep pretending we're happy with just being friends when we know we're not
Baby, lets leave them all for dead
Let's forget about everything and everyone else for now and focus on ourselves
All those thoughts inside your head
All the doubts and fears that are holding us back
Can be reality, just let yourself believe
We can make our dreams come true if we have faith in ourselves
My life is a cross of a fire and a stampede
My life is chaotic and intense
I'll burn inside, you still run after me
Despite my flaws, you still want to be with me
Yeah, we'll find out, how it feels to burn alive
We'll take risks and live life to the fullest
You and me girl, let's set ourselves on fire
Let's ignite our passion and excitement for life
Baby, Lets leave them all for dead
Let's forget about what anyone else thinks and focus on our relationship
All those thoughts inside you head
All the fears and doubts that are holding us back
I feel your body radiate, in the lighteining we create
Our connection is intense and passionate
So let yourself believe
Believe in our love and our future together
Oh yeah, we don't care who finds out, tonight is all that matters right now
We're living in the moment and not worrying about what anyone else thinks
Let's go once more, down to the dance floor
Let's keep dancing and enjoying the night
Make me sell my soul for more
I'm willing to do anything for us to be together
(even when we fall alseep together)
Even when we're at our most vulnerable, our love holds strong
(even when we fall lseep together)
Our love is constant and unchanging
(as if we never even meant it)
We're pretending like our relationship isn't important, even though it is
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind