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Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

 
Album Review: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
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Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

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  • Artist: Spiritualized
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: July 01, 1997
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Spiritualized's third collection of hypnotic headphone symphonies is their most brilliant and accessible to date. Largely forsaking the drones and minimalistic, repetitive riffs which have characterized his work since the halcyon days of Spacemen 3, Jason Pierce re-focuses here and spins off into myriad new directions; in a sense, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, with its majestic, Spector-like glow, is his classic rock album. "Come Together" and the blistering "Electricity" are his most edgy, straightforward rockers in eons, while the stunning "I Think I'm in Love" settles into a divided-psyche call-and-response R&B groove, and the closing "Cop Shoot Cop" (with guest Dr. John) locks into a voodoo blues trance. Lyrically, Pierce is at his most open and honest: The record is a heartfelt confessional of love and loss, with redemption found only in the form of drugs -- designed, no less, to look like a prescription pharmaceutical package, Ladies and Gentlemen is pointedly explicit in its description of drug use as a means of killing the pain on track after track. Conversely, never before have the literal implications of the name "Spiritualized" been explored in such earnest detail -- the London Community Gospel Choir appears prominently on a number of songs, while another bears the title "No God, Only Religion," pushing the music even further toward the kind of cosmic gospel transcendence it craves. A masterpiece. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (3:40)
Come Together (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (4:40)
I Think I'm in Love (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (8:09)
All of My Thoughts (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (4:36)
Stay with Me (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (5:08)
Electricity (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (3:46)
Home of the Brave (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (2:22)
The Individual Jason Pierce Spiritualized (4:15)
Broken Heart (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (6:38)
No God Only Religion Jason Pierce Spiritualized (4:21)
Cool Waves (Lyrics) Jason Pierce Spiritualized (5:06)
Cop Shoot Cop... Jason Pierce Spiritualized (17:13)

Credits

Andy Davis (Organ), Dr. John (Piano), Dr. John (Vocals), Angel Corpus Christi (Accordion), Spiritualized (Main Performer), Darren Allison (Engineer), Darren Allison (Mixing), Alexander Balanescu (Violin), Andrew Clark (Horn Arrangements), Simon Clarke (Flute), Simon Clarke (Sax (Baritone)), Simon Clarke (Horn Arrangements), B.J. Cole (Pedal Steel), Clare Connors (Violin), Clare Connors (String Arrangements), Sean Cook (Harmonica), Sean Cook (Fender Rhodes), Sean Cook (Fender Jazz Bass), Terry Edwards (Sax (Tenor)), Tim Jones (French Horn), John Leckie (Engineer), John Leckie (Mixing), The London Community Gospel Choir (Choir, Chorus), Patrick McCarthy (Engineer), Patrick McCarthy (Mixing), Carl Nappa (Engineer), Elliot Roberts (Management), Tim Sanders (Sax (Tenor)), Tim Sanders (Horn Arrangements), J. Neil Sidwell (Trombone), John Coxon (Guitar), John Coxon (Melodica), John Coxon (Multi Instruments), John Coxon (Producer), John Coxon (Fender Jaguar), Jason Pierce (Dulcimer), Jason Pierce (Piano), Jason Pierce (Arranger), Jason Pierce (Autoharp), Jason Pierce (Vocals), Jason Pierce (Producer), Jason Pierce (Fender Rhodes), Jason Pierce (Horn Arrangements), Jason Pierce (String Arrangements), Jason Pierce (Mixing), Jason Pierce (Choir Arrangement), Mads Bjerke (Engineer), Mads Bjerke (Editing), Mads Bjerke (Mixing), Mads Bjerke (Post Producer), Kate Radley (Piano), Kate Radley (Vocals), Kate Radley (Multi Instruments), Kate Radley (Farfisa Organ), Kate Radley (Roland Synthesizer), Kate Radley (Vox Continental), Ray Staff (Mastering), Chad Bamford (Engineer), Chad Bamford (Assistant Engineer), Chad Bamford (Mixing), Chad Bamford (Mixing Assistant), Ed Coxon (Violin), Ed Coxon (Horn Arrangements), Trevor Curwen (Engineer), Trevor Curwen (Mixing), Patrick McGovern (Assistant Engineer), Patrick McGovern (Mixing Assistant), Damon Reece (Percussion), Damon Reece (Timbales), Damon Reece (Bells), Damon Reece (Tympani [Timpani]), Darren Nash (Engineer), Darren Nash (Assistant Engineer), Darren Nash (Mixing Assistant), Sophie Harris (Cello), Chris Scard (Assistant Engineer), Frank Gironda (Management), Kathy Burgess (Viola)
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Wikipedia: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Studio album by Spiritualized
Released June 16, 1997
Recorded 1995–1997
Genre Space rock, dream pop, shoegaze, post-rock
Length 69:41
Label Dedicated
Producer J. Spaceman, John Coxon
Professional reviews
Spiritualized chronology
Pure Phase
(1995)		 Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
(1997)		 Royal Albert Hall October 10, 1997
(1998)
Singles from Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
  1. "Electricity"
    Released: July 28, 1997
  2. "I Think I'm in Love"
    Released: January 12, 1998
  3. "Come Together"
    Released: July 17, 1998
  4. "The Abbey Road EP"
    Released: August 14, 1998

Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space is the third studio album by Spiritualized, released in June 1997, and features guest appearances from the Balanescu Quartet, The London Community Gospel Choir and Dr. John.[8]

Contents

Background

Jason Pierce, 1998

The title of the album is taken from the philosophical novel Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder, the context being: "Only philosophers embark on this perilous expedition to the outermost reaches of language and existence. Some of them fall off, but others cling on desperately and yell at the people nestling deep in the snug softness, stuffing themselves with delicious food and drink. 'Ladies and Gentlemen,' they yell, 'we are floating in space!' But none of the people down there care."[9][10]

The album itself was written shortly after the breakup of Spiritualized's Jason Pierce and Kate Radley, the band's keyboard player. Radley had secretly married Richard Ashcroft of The Verve in 1995.[11][12]

Original pressings had an alternative version of the title track, incorporating the lyrics and melody of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love."[13] The Presley estate objected to this, and a remixed version of the track was included on the commercial release, with new lyrics. However, Spiritualized continue to use both sets of lyrics in live performances. They have recently been allowed to use the Presley lyrics on the reissued album, with the proviso that the song is now titled 'Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (I Can't Help Falling In Love With You)'. Album closer "Cop Shoot Cop..." references lyrics from the John Prine song "Sam Stone," incorporating variations on a key line from that song's chorus.

Special editions

A special edition of the album was packaged in a box designed to resemble prescription medicine, complete with "dosage advice" and a foil blister pack containing the CD.[14] A limited edition was also released, featuring each of the 12 songs in its own individually-wrapped 3-inch CD, inside a large blister pack and box.[15]

Critical reception

The album reached number four on the UK charts,[16] during the height of the Britpop period. It attracted favourable reviews from the music press, including Allmusic, who hailed the album as "a masterpiece" and awarded the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.[1] Ladies and Gentlemen went on to win the NME album of the year award at the end of 1997, beating Radiohead's critically acclaimed OK Computer and The Verve's Urban Hymns.

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Melody Maker United Kingdom Best 50 Albums of the Year[17] 1997 5
NME United Kingdom Best 50 Albums of the Year[18] 1997 1
Q United Kingdom Best 50 Albums of the Year[19] 1997 *
Select United Kingdom Best 30 Albums of the Year[20] 1997 2
The Face United Kingdom Best 20 Albums of the Year[21] 1997 5
The Village Voice United States Best 40 Albums of the Year[22] 1997 17
Uncut United Kingdom Best 25 Albums of the Year[23] 1997 13
Vox United Kingdom Best 50 Albums of the Year[24] 1997 2

* denotes an unranked list.

Legacy

A majority of the songs on the album were recorded live for the band's following release Royal Albert Hall October 10, 1997. Three singles were released from the album: "Electricity" in July 1997, "I Think I'm in Love" in January 1998, and "Come Together" in July 1998. Spiritualized re-recorded the songs "Come Together" and "Broken Heart" (the former with a cleaner radio mix and the latter with an Ennio Morricone-styled string and horn section) at Abbey Road Studios in early 1998; these tracks comprised the band's Abbey Road EP released in August 1998. The title track of the album appeared in the 2001 Cameron Crowe film Vanilla Sky.

In late 2009, Spiritualized are scheduled to perform the album live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series, in London and Manchester. A remastered and expanded legacy edition of the album will be released on November 30, 2009 to coincide with the show.[25] The remastered edition will be released on three formats:[26]

  • The Collector's Edition: twelve 3" mini CDs of the complete album track-by-track, plus two bonus discs of unreleased material. This edition is limited to only 1,000 copies.
  • The Special Edition: a limited edition of the original album in the original pill-pack style packaging, alongside the two bonus discs.
  • The standard one CD version of the original album with new artwork.

All three editions will include a revised version of the opening track "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (now including "Can't Help Falling in Love" as originally intended for the album).

Track listing

All songs written by Jason Pierce.

  1. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" – 3:40
  2. "Come Together" – 4:40
  3. "I Think I'm in Love" – 8:09
  4. "All of My Thoughts" – 4:36
  5. "Stay with Me" – 5:08
  6. "Electricity" – 3:46
  7. "Home of the Brave" – 2:22
  8. "The Individual" – 4:15
  9. "Broken Heart" – 6:38
  10. "No God Only Religion" – 4:21
  11. "Cool Waves" – 5:05
  12. "Cop Shoot Cop..." – 17:13

Bonus disc #1

  1. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (A Cappella)
  2. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (Demo)
  3. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (Strings)
  4. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (Kate Telephone Call)
  5. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (Moles Studio Mix 7)
  6. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (Original Oratone Ideas)
  7. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" (A Cappella with Lead Vocal)
  8. "Come Together" (Instrumental Demo)
  9. "Come Together" (Demo in Lower Key)
  10. "I Think I'm in Love" (Original Demo Idea)
  11. "I Think I'm in Love" (Demo)
  12. "I Think I'm in Love" (Drums/Wah)
  13. "I Think I'm in Love" (A Cappella)
  14. "I Think I'm in Love" (Vocal Demo January 1996)
  15. "I Think I'm in Love" (Gospel Choir Session)
  16. "All of My Thoughts" (Demo)
  17. "All of My Thoughts" (Strings)
  18. "Rocket Shaped Song"

Bonus disc #2

  1. "Electricity" (Demo)
  2. "Electricity" (January 1996)
  3. "Electricity" (June 1996)
  4. "Home of the Brave" (Demo)
  5. "Home of the Brave" (Panned Vocal)
  6. "Beautiful Happiness"
  7. "Broken Heart" (Demo)
  8. "Broken Heart" (Strings)
  9. "Broken Heart" (Vocal Harmony/Angel Corpus Christi)
  10. "Broken Heart" (Early Vocal)
  11. "No God Only Religion" (Demo)
  12. "No God Only Religion" (Horns)
  13. "Cool Waves" (Demo)
  14. "Cool Waves" (String Session Mix)
  15. "Cop Shoot Cop..." (Demo)
  16. "Cop Shoot Cop..." (Dr. John The National Anthem)
  17. "Cop Shoot Cop..." (String Session Mix)

Personnel

Spiritualized
Additional musicians
Technical personnel
  • John Coxon – producer
  • Darren Allison – engineer, mixing
  • Chad Bamford – engineer, mixing
  • Mads Bjerke – engineer, editing, post-production
  • Trevor Curwen – engineer, mixing
  • John Leckie – engineer, mixing
  • Patrick McCarthy – engineer, mixing
  • Patrick McGovern – engineer, mixing
  • Carl Nappa – engineer
  • Darren Nash – engineer, assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Jason Pierce – arranger, producer, mixing
  • Chris Scard – assistant engineer
  • Ray Staff – mastering

Singles

  • "Supplementary Dosage" (June 1997; US promo-only CD)
  1. "Cop Shoot Cop" (Live)
  2. "Shine a Light" (Live)
  3. "Electric Mainline" (Live)
  4. "Cool Waves" (Instrumental)
  5. "The X-Files Theme"
  • "Electricity" (July 28, 1997)
CD1
  1. "Electricity" (Edit)
  2. "Take Your Time" (Live)
  3. "All of My Tears" (Live)
  4. "Cool Waves" (Instrumental)
CD2
  1. "Electricity"
  2. "Cop Shoot Cop" (Live)
  3. "Shine a Light" (Live)
  4. "Electric Mainline" (Live)
  • "I Think I'm in Love" (January 12, 1998)
  1. "I Think I'm in Love" (Edit)
  2. "I Think I'm in Love" (The Chemical Brothers Remix)
  3. "I Think I'm in Love" (The Chemical Brothers Instrumental)
  • "Come Together" (July 17, 1998)
  1. "Come Together" (Richard Fearless Remix)
  2. "Come Together" (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix)
  • The Abbey Road EP (August 14, 1998)
  1. "Come Together" (Abbey Road Version)
  2. "Broken Heart" (Abbey Road Version)
  3. "Broken Heart" (Instrumental; Abbey Road Version)

Charts

Year Chart Peak Position
1997 Heatseekers #26

References

  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Review: Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wjud6jo87190. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
  2. ^ Brunner, Rob (June 27, 1997). "Review: Ladies and Gentlemen, We're Floating in Space". Time Inc.. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,288485,00.html. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
  3. ^ "Review: Spiritualized : Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space". IPC Media. 1997. http://web.archive.org/web/20011116230004/www.nme.com/NME/External/Reviews/Reviews_Story/0,1069,340,00.html. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Review: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Arista, 1997)". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1301&name=Spiritualized. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
  5. ^ Holland, Taylor (August 28, 1997). "Review: SPIRITUALIZED - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Arista Dedicated)". Nick Barbaro. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid:529516. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
  6. ^ Glaister, Dan. "Review: Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (Dedicated)". Friday Review (Guardian Media Group) (June 13, 1997): 19. 
  7. ^ Gill, Andy (June 13, 1997). "Review: Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Dedicated DEDCD 034)". Independent News & Media. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/article1255629.ece. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
  8. ^ allmusic ((( Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space > Credits )))
  9. ^ Spiritualized Discography
  10. ^ Google's cached link to The Daily Bruin's November 1997 article on Spiritualized
  11. ^ Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space; "Little J Is Sad and F**ked" seciton
  12. ^ Richard Ashcroft biography on IMDb
  13. ^ Ladies and Gentlemen... Elvis mix
  14. ^ Images for Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
  15. ^ Images for Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space box set
  16. ^ Guinness British Hit Singles & Albums 2006 isbn 1-904994-10-5
  17. ^ "Melody Maker Albums of the Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mmlists_p2.htm#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  18. ^ "NME Albums of the Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1997.html. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  19. ^ "Q Albums of the Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlists.html#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  20. ^ "Select Albums of the Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/select.html#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  21. ^ "The Face Albums Of The Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/theface.htm#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  22. ^ "The Village Voice Albums Of The Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/village9097.htm#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  23. ^ "Uncut Albums of the Year, 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/uncut.htm#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  24. ^ "Vox Albums Of The Year 1997". rocklistmusic.co.uk. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/vox.html#1997. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  25. ^ Spiritualized to perform Ladies and Gentlemen... in its entirety | PopMatters
  26. ^ Spiritualized | News (Ladies and Gentlemen press release, posted September 15, 2009)
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Spiritualized
Jason Pierce
Tom Edwards · Doggen · Thighpaulsandra  · John Coxon
Will Carruthers · Jonny Mattock · Mark Refoy · Kate Radley · Sean Cook  · Mike Mooney  · Damon Reece  · Gregg Hale  · Ray Dickaty  · Richard Warren  · Kevin Bales  · Jonny Aitken
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Lazer Guided Melodies  · Pure Phase · Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space  · Let It Come Down  · Amazing Grace  · Songs in A&E
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