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I guess it's fair to say that support band Spring Heel Jack didn't leave much of
an impression. We were there for the whole duration, but in sitting around talking
and getting the beers in only a stone's throw from the stage we completely failed
to notice them. That is, if they even played at all. I can't be sure they did.
Spiritualised. Unusual. I must confess to not really knowing what to expect. I
wasn't a great fan before the gig and I can't say I really say I am now, though
they're certainly one of the best and more interesting bands to experience live. I'd
previously just heard a couple of their records and thought it would be a good gig, but
I have to say, the feeling I had while watching was that everyone else knew what was
going on and I didn't.
The crowd numbered more than I expected, despite the big
success of their latest LP, "Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space". That was my
first surprise. I also soon learned what an appropriate title that was for the album.
I don't think I've ever seen so many long haired blokes in the same room before (funny
how you notice these things). I saw more pints drunk and cigarettes smoked among the crowd
than I've seen at gig before. It was certainly the kind of music you'd drink
rather than jump around to. I saw one guy wandering around the bar beforehand clutching a
copy of "2010: Odyssey 2", which I thought odd at first but later found the mood of
the music very similar to that captured in its pages.
Our attention was brought back to the events at hand when Spiritualised took to the
stage. They made no greetings, and spoke not a word throughout other than the (often
sparse) lyrics to their songs. We were soon witnessing one long, winding, atmospheric
journey. As they started to play, backed by the most impressive
light show I've seen, Stu commented that they sounded like earlyish Pink Floyd.
I said, only half jokingly, that they looked like Space in greater numbers. In truth it
is far easier to think of things Spiritualised definitely are not than to try
to describe what they are.
The Beatles they aint. Spiritualised play what I'd call warped, largely
instrumental rock'n'roll built from dual guitars, bass, drums, synthesizers and
occasional sax, flute and harmonica that for anyone else would likely be a bad idea. The
result is a huge wall of ambient sound of varying volume and tempo. During the
opening song (sorry, I wish I could give you names) the music built steadily from
soft foundations to a massive aural assault of almost white noise. We soon found this
to be the trend. Spiritualised songs tend to end in a crescendo rather than a coda, before
melting into the beginnings of the next track. The whole set was performed tonight with barely
a break in the music, and with the brilliant lighting often making the band just silhouettes
it made for a truly atmospheric trip.
When they really want to rock'n'roll they can, easy. Take "Electricity", almost trad. rock by numbers but delivered in a way only Spiritualised could. Jason Pierce's vocals were also impressive throughout, blending into the music with ease. The same could be said of the more slowed down "Medication", where the vocal was almost drawled over the backing. Lennon would have loved it, you feel. So would Brian Wilson I expect.
The Pink Floyd comparison was a good one, but during the course of the evening I was reminded of a number of other groups. The Orb was the first one, and I spent a long time trying to find the opposite end of the scale that Spiritualised would lie in the middle of. It was around 15 minutes from the end when I realised it would be The Doors. A bizarre combination that makes for a truly unique band. Perfect.
The closing song again rose to the noise we'd experienced at the start and the show was over. An encore would have ruined it. The lights return to normal and the background music fades back in. The Foundry, which had felt like any number of strange places, was back to normal.
mea95dad@sheffield.ac.uk