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.
Cool Waves
Spiritualized Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay your head down low
Don't let the world
Lay heavy on your soul
'Cause when you gotta sleep
You gotta sleep
Cool waves wash over me
Lay your sweet hand on me
'Cause I love you
Love you
Love you
Baby if you lose your love
Don't take me by surprise
Don't think you're crying
But there's teardrops in your eyes
If you gotta leave
You gotta leave
Cool waves wash over me
Cool water running free
Lay your sweet hand on me
'Cause I love you
Love you
Love you
Babe you know you gotta be
And let your light shine through
And don't let anybody
Tell you what to do
'Cause babe you gotta be
You gotta be
Cool waves wash over me
Cool water running free
Lay your sweet hand on me
'Cause I love you
Love you
Love you
The lyrics to Spiritualized's "Cool Waves" are a reminder to take care of oneself and not let the weight of the world crush the soul. The first verse encourages one to lay their head down low and not let the world carry its weight onto one's shoulders. When it's time to sleep, it's time to let go and let the cool waves wash over, which represents the soothing and comforting feeling of falling into a peaceful slumber. The chorus repeats the phrase "cool waves wash over me," emphasizing the idea that the act of letting go and allowing oneself to let relaxation take over is the best way to handle the weight of the world. The repeated line "lay your sweet hand on me, 'cause I love you, love you, love you" represents the comfort that the person who loves us can provide.
The second verse discusses the pain of losing love, reminding one to not let it catch them off guard, and to not be ashamed for crying or showing emotion. If it's time to leave, then it's time to leave. The third verse encourages the listener to be true to themselves, to let their light shine through and not let anyone else tell them what to do. The final chorus repeats the same words as before, reinforcing the importance of allowing oneself to let go and be free.
Overall, the song is a reminder that it's okay to let go sometimes and to let the cool waves wash over us as a means to cope with the stress that life can bring. The soothing melody and emotional lyrics work together to create a calming effect on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby when you gotta sleep
When you need to rest, it's best to let your mind and body relax.
Lay your head down low
Put your head down and find a comfortable position to get some rest.
Don't let the world
Don't let external factors affect your peace of mind.
Lay heavy on your soul
Avoid carrying the stress and burdens of the world on your heart and mind.
'Cause when you gotta sleep
Sleeping is essential for one's physical and mental health
You gotta sleep
Make sure you get the rest you need to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Cool waves wash over me
A feeling of peace and tranquility washes over the singer.
Cool water running free
Represents freedom and the path to clarity of mind
Lay your sweet hand on me
The touch of a loved one can bring comfort and happiness.
'Cause I love you
The love expressed is deep and sincere.
Love you
The singer loves the person to whom this song is directed.
Baby if you lose your love
If you ever lose the love of your life, then
Don't take me by surprise
Don't shock the singer by leaving suddenly
Don't think you're crying
The singer is empathizing with the other person's emotions.
But there's teardrops in your eyes
The other person is crying and going through a lot of pain.
If you gotta leave
If you feel like you must go, then go.
You gotta leave
The other person has to do what they feel is right.
Babe you know you gotta be
The singer is encouraging the other person to be true to themselves.
And let your light shine through
Be confident in who you are and let the world see you shine.
And don't let anybody
Don't allow anyone to get in the way of your growth and happiness.
Tell you what to do
Follow your own path and make your own decisions.
'Cause babe you gotta be
The importance of being independent is stressed again.
Cool waves wash over me
The feeling of peace and calm takes over the singer again.
Cool water running free
The freeing sensation is reiterated to convey a sense of liberation.
Lay your sweet hand on me
The singer wants to feel the presence of their loved one again.
'Cause I love you
The love the singer has for the other person is profound.
Love you
The message of love is repeated as a profound sentiment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON PIERCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind