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.
Angel Sigh
Spiritualized Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I see you walkin' by
Girl why'know the reason why
Girl why'know the reason why
Girl why' know I've nothin' left
I'm just a feather on your breath
Girl why'know the reason why
The lyrics to Spiritualized's song "Angel Sigh" convey a sense of awe and reverence for the woman being addressed. The comparison to an angel's sigh implies that her presence is ethereal and otherworldly, and the singer is captivated by her every step. The repetition of "girl why'know the reason why" suggests that the singer is both awestruck and perplexed by his feelings for her, as if he cannot fully explain or understand why he is drawn to her.
The second verse deepens this sense of longing and surrender, with the singer describing himself as "just a feather on your breath." This implies that he is entirely at her mercy, his fate determined by her whims. The repetition of "girl why'know the reason why" in this verse takes on a more pleading tone, as if the singer is desperately trying to understand what it is about her that has captured his heart.
Overall, "Angel Sigh" is a song that conveys both the ecstasy and agony of infatuation, with the soaring vocals and dreamy instrumentation underscoring the sense of awe and wonder at the heart of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl it's like an angels sigh
The feeling of seeing you walk by is as heavenly and beautiful as the sound of an angel's sigh.
When I see you walkin' by
This feeling comes over me when I see you walking by.
Girl why'know the reason why
Girl, you probably know that the reason behind the feeling I have is you, and how amazing you look.
Girl why'know the reason why
Girl, you probably know that the reason behind the feeling I have is you, and how amazing you look.
Girl why' know I've nothin' left
You completely consume me, and I'm left with nothing.
I'm just a feather on your breath
I'm so powerless against you, like a feather being carried around by the wind.
Girl why'know the reason why
Girl, you probably know that the reason behind the feeling I have is you, and how amazing you look.
Girl why'know the reason why
Girl, you probably know that the reason behind the feeling I have is you, and how amazing you look.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON PIERCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind