spectrum- worth it?

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:05 am

hi. i love spiritualized and the whole garage rock element of some tracks but also the lushness of others. i prefer spz to spacemen 3 and was wondering if it would be worth me tracking down some spectrum stuff? if i tend to go towards the 'song' element in tracks, (melody, lyrics etc), basically, what does spectrum sound like and would it be worth me getting some of his stuff?

cheers

clewsr · Post by **clewsr** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:10 am

i was also slow to investigate spectrum fully...think I've always had soul kiss which is a great album. Also sought out Highs lows and heavenly blows a while ago. It is all very laid back, although I think forever alien is a bit more challenging.

Probably the best place to start would be a collection like what came before came after:

http://www.dvdstars.com/product.php?sec ... D9AyDh8vgP

Also notice that that site found at random has another collection I've never heard of, 'refractions through the rhythm of time' which I don't think I own

http://www.dvdstars.com/product.php?pro ... &section=A

anyone got this?

Laz69 · Post by **Laz69** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:30 pm

Both are excellent compilations for the newbie to Spectrum. The first one obviously covers the earlier sounds, but are still both worth getting.

I think Soul Kiss is one of the finest albums any of the SP3/SPZ/SB family put out.
Sonic more recent work does have more of an EAR influence, but i like EAR, so Forever Alien is a great album in my opinion. High, Lows... is probably the most accessible; very dreamy and beautiful.

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:23 pm

soul kiss is also an album by olivia newton john!

i've just ordered what came before before from amazon market place. thanks for your help!

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:39 pm

Soul Kiss is probably still my favourite post-Spacemen album by any of the former members. It's a mixture of songs and soundscapes, but the more ambient stuff is still accessable.

Highs, Lows... is very popular with Kember fans. It is more song-based, and many of those songs are good 'uns. The first half sounds far more produced to me, with the latter end a bit washed out, so I find that it tails off a bit, but I'm in a minority here. The two halves are bridged with a song co-written and sung by Scott Riley, who sounds not unlike Jason, which is a bit freeky.

Forever Alien is almost all electronic and is more of an aquired taste. The more intense songs are a bit too much for me, but there's plenty of interest elsewhere.

Both of the compilations mentioned have some good stuff on them, but I would have thought that they would be a bewildering place to start. They're both quite uneven.

Love,

Ian

spacemanrich · Post by **spacemanrich** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:26 pm

Also, don't forget the Sonic Boom / Spectrum album that predates " Soul Kiss Glide Divine " album - terrific stuff !

Yeah, " Forever Alien " is a little harsh for thy ears ...

scratch · Post by **scratch** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:54 pm

1. sonic boom - spectrum
2. spectrum - highs lows.. I have several friends who like this one better than spz and sp3..
3. spectrum - soul kiss.. some really good songs but uneven.. the "soundscapes" bore me a little
4. spectrum - forever alien some good tracks but mostly a bit too much EAR for my taste.

High time for a new one!

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:00 pm

scratch wrote:3. spectrum - soul kiss.. some really good songs but uneven.. the "soundscapes" bore me a little

The fifteen minutes of whale song at the end, perhaps, but Neon Pulse is gorgeous and possibly my favourite track on the album.

scratch wrote:High time for a new one!

Amazingly, this year marks the tenth anniversary of Forever Alien.

Love,

Ian

scratch · Post by **scratch** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:51 pm

Yes, itÂ´s those last 16 mins that I feel is like a poor medley of bits and pieces of themes already heard.

neon sigh is the one with the violin or cello that almost has a melody, right?

..but that one also works as a good intro to waves, quite different to phasemeout (boringly) I actually turn the record off (gently) when that starts.

damn IÂ´ve had forever alien for almost ten years and only listened to the full record like 20 times..

I always skip several tracks when I put that on.

we shouldnÂ´t be too nice - last time Pete stopped by and I think he commented on some of the criticism.. I was so shocked and embarrased my fingers went mute.

Just be sure: I love an overwhelming majority of the Spectrum stuff of course!

... but I want an occasional guitar or two here and there..

pauldroneon · Post by **pauldroneon** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:14 pm

soul kiss was the only record i played during my whole school life ......great memories to that album ...... my opinion is soul kiss is a must have in any record collection .

The Breeze · Post by **The Breeze** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:47 pm

spacemanrich wrote:Also, don't forget the Sonic Boom / Spectrum album that predates " Soul Kiss Glide Divine " album - terrific stuff !

Yeah, " Forever Alien " is a little harsh for thy ears ...

The album that predates Soul Kiss is simply called Sonic Boom - Spectrum. It has one of the greatest ever SP3 (or afters) tracks on it called 'Angel'.
Other high points are 'Rock n' Roll is killing my life' (Suicide) and the marvelous opener 'Help me Please'. I really like the minimalism of the LP.

Sonic is a winner when it comes to covers, if you've ordered Highs, Lows then you're gonna love Indian Summer and True Love Will Find You In The End. I think California Lullabye is perhaps my favourite of Pete's covers.

As EAR goes, I vote for Mesmerised and Phenomena 256.

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:13 am

The Breeze wrote:
spacemanrich wrote:Al
As EAR goes, I vote for Mesmerised and Phenomena 256.

forgive my ignorence but what does EAR stand for? i keep reading it and keep thinking 'i'm not entriely sure what that means?'

as for the whale song thing, now that has my interest! i love diversity!

looks like i've got a long way to go but from your comments the path won't be too hard!

cheers again guys

ash · Post by **ash** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:30 am

bunnyben wrote:forgive my ignorence but what does EAR stand for? i keep reading it and keep thinking 'i'm not entriely sure what that means?'

Now that's something I can answer. Experimental Audio Research.

I think I'll be adding Mesmerised to my shopping list.

Post by **BzaInSpace** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:42 am

The Breeze wrote:
The album that predates Soul Kiss is simply called Sonic Boom - Spectrum...

Its a really deep space-blues album that one. A definite lost classic!

I love 'Forever Alien' too.

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:24 pm

ash wrote:
bunnyben wrote:forgive my ignorence but what does EAR stand for? i keep reading it and keep thinking 'i'm not entriely sure what that means?'
Now that's something I can answer. Experimental Audio Research.

I think I'll be adding Mesmerised to my shopping list.

cheers. is it along the same ''aristic'' lines of gutair loops, (but obviously with electronics!), just noise for some abstract reason?

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:37 pm

I asked Pete which Spectrum album he liked the best and typically being non-committal, he said he tended towards my preference for Soul Kiss. Though i think Indian Summer is an amazing ep.

From what various folks have hinted, the new album will be a belter...when it's finally released!

dselevan · Post by **dselevan** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:36 am

I just found that Spectrum 12" while going through my records. Got it for 1.99. Hey Spacemanrich, can you please send me Colchester Disk 2? I'm pretty bummed that you haven't gotten to that yet. Thanks.

cappin · Post by **cappin** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:26 pm

could anyone gimme a taster of something from highs and lows or soul kiss (upload)? i have refractions and forever alien (they kick!) but would like to hear what ealier spectrum is like..

....ok, ok, i just want a quick free download!

caspar x

jamesj1986 · Post by **jamesj1986** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:23 pm

cappin wrote:could anyone gimme a taster of something from highs and lows or soul kiss (upload)? i have refractions and forever alien (they kick!) but would like to hear what ealier spectrum is like..

....ok, ok, i just want a quick free download!

caspar x

How You Satisfy Me and (I Love You) To the Moon and Back on Refractions are taken from Soul Kiss, and Undo the Taboo and All Night Long are from Highs, Lows.....

So you've already heard earlier Spectrum!

cappin · Post by **cappin** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:10 pm

i need

more!

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:11 pm

cappin wrote:i need more!

Maybe do what the rest of us latecomers did and track down some of the albums...I ended up getting Soul Kiss on CD for about Â£10 from Germany after spending months trying to find it at a reasonable price. Just to piss me off my friend found a copy of the vinyl complete with intact gel cover in a shop in Hackney by pure chance within a week!

I got the 1st album pretty easily on eBay for about the same price, but so far the only thing I've got to spin with it is the interesting cover.

I was told SpaceAge are planning to rerelease Soul Kiss and maybe more so I don't think we should be uploading stuff if it's going to get a commercial release...I'm not sure how other folks here think about this

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:00 pm

Stick your hand in your pocket and shell out.

Fuzzhead · Post by **Fuzzhead** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:30 pm

They Transmit wrote:Stick your hand in your pocket and shell out.

Exactly.

It's a great feeling finally getting your hands on a record you've been chasing for ages.

I, along with loads of others on here, have done this for plenty of rare Spacemen/Sonic/Spz records. I love it.

It's worth it.

You can stick your Megauploads up your arse.

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:43 pm

Fuzzhead wrote:You can stick your Megauploads up your arse.

Can I be excused as my arse has an aversion to foreign bodies intruding?

Fuzzhead · Post by **Fuzzhead** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:46 pm

Cmon Mojo, it's the weekend honey.

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:50 pm

Well...if you insist - my price for a single entry is 2 crates of the elusive cider

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:51 pm

Instant gratification and the immediate satisfaction society boils my blood. Megaupload expectations and no waiting happyness= Easy come easy go zero longevity move on to the next one, I want it now bollocks. Makes me sick. Ipod shite.

Fuzzhead · Post by **Fuzzhead** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:56 pm

mojo filters wrote:Well...if you insist - my price for a single entry is 2 crates of the elusive cider

I reckon my end of the bargain is the easier to fulfill.

Which would be the more enjoyable though?

I'm supping the elusive cider right now actually.

Cheers big ears.

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:57 pm

They Transmit wrote:Instant gratification and the immediate satisfaction society boils my blood. Megaupload expectations and no waiting happyness= Easy come easy go zero longevity move on to the next one, I want it now bollocks. Makes me sick. Ipod shite.

I was planning on drinking the cider and not being sick...as regards megauploads (all puns intended) it seems quantity has triumphed over quality round these parts recently...now I can't get that ricky gervais stand-up routine about pandas and viagra out of my filthy mind

Fuzzhead · Post by **Fuzzhead** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:05 pm

They Transmit wrote:Instant gratification and the immediate satisfaction society boils my blood. Megaupload expectations and no waiting happyness= Easy come easy go zero longevity move on to the next one, I want it now bollocks. Makes me sick. Ipod shite.

I'm with you, Transmit.

The day I start buying my music by clicking a link on a screen is the day I give up. That day looks like it's coming sooner rather than later.

It leaves me cold.

I know - I sound like a "things were better in my day" sad prick - but I don't care.

Eveything's so fucking throw-away and plastic now.

cappin · Post by **cappin** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:11 pm

woah, shit.... im just skint is all. signing on istn't always so cool. sorry if i pissed any one off..

ha, no im not.

whatever, i'd rather have "hardware" over "software" any day. fuck.

x

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:18 pm

I just hate how precious records become instant coffee for the super-speed society. "Its in a folder somewhere..." Eh?
Cardboard sleeves, taking care of the plastic disk of magic sound, needle, record, happiness and transportation. This is right,this is music.
click, wait, mine, click, wait, mine, click click click...tssk.

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:19 pm

No worries cappin, we've all been there. Get the library to order it in...

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:21 pm

They Transmit wrote:This is right,this is music.
click, wait, mine, click, wait, mine, click click click...tssk.

...and I thought that was the title of your last single

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:22 pm

Quality, that's the B side sorted then.

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:42 pm

Great...I love it when my name appears at the end of a list of 'thank you's' after the band have mentioned family, friends, the Pope and their local MP etc in the smallprint!

ash · Post by **ash** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:12 am

Fuzzhead wrote:Eveything's so fucking throw-away and plastic now.

Or even less plastic (or cardboard) than it used to be.

Digital-only music? Buying everything again because your hard drive has crashed? Or that stack of mp3 DVDs you burned failed to acknowledge the manufacturer's guarantee and gave up the ghost after three years? Fuck that!

Right. I'm going to go and put a record on.

scratch · Post by **scratch** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:57 am

Buy it!

..or if you were too young to buy it when it was released and it is OOP then write Pete a mail and get an autographed cd-r.

I have heard that works.

I think that the day we start uploading even shitty mp3:s of officially released spz/sp3/spectrum/ear etc will be the beginning of the end for this message board..

and he needs the cash to make new music!

veiko · Post by **veiko** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:30 pm

well, spectrum is worth "it". it is.
unarguable there is limitless amount of good music out there, but i can't really see why restrict yourself by not checking out what have both Jason and Peter done.
i think all the Spacemen 3 demos are worth checking out, most of the concert bootlegs also. singles too. etc.
from there on Sonic Boom's first solo and then EAR and Spiritualized...
i mean check out every possible bit by our beloved Rugby crew. no need to listen it again if you didn't enjoy it, but just by checking out every release you know whats great for the lazy days of pension. or good for the blue monday (and green friday).

...i'm so sleepy, i'm so sleepy...

Bza, once again a wicked "similarity" - i very much like Forever Alien. holy cow, all the layers of sounds. can really say that for recording this album electricity came from another planet.

it has been sayed here before, but let the repeat button stuck in again - Forever Alien is defo more a soundtrack of rehabilitation than Let It Come Down.

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:16 pm

They Transmit wrote:I just hate how precious records become instant coffee for the super-speed society. "Its in a folder somewhere..." Eh?
Cardboard sleeves, taking care of the plastic disk of magic sound, needle, record, happiness and transportation. This is right,this is music.
click, wait, mine, click, wait, mine, click click click...tssk.

i'd be lost without my cd walkman

mojo filters · Post by **mojo filters** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:52 am

bunnyben wrote:i'd be lost without my cd walkman

Does it come with GPS?

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:54 am

My Gramaphone/Backpack still serves me well.

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:41 pm

mojo filters wrote:
bunnyben wrote:i'd be lost without my cd walkman
Does it come with GPS?

nah, just a compas. i think the new iplod has though...

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:42 pm

bunnyben wrote:
mojo filters wrote:
bunnyben wrote:i'd be lost without my cd walkman
Does it come with GPS?
nah, just a compas. i think the new iplod has though...

Luxury!! In my day, we made do with a scale model of Stonehenge!

(no kidding...!)

They Transmit · Post by **They Transmit** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 7:59 am

wow, that is brilliant and funny! Result.

bunnyben · Post by **bunnyben** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:43 am

notice how on the website it doesn't really say who made the watch... maybe no one knows. my money's on nixon...

ash · Post by **ash** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:19 pm

bunnyben wrote:notice how on the website it doesn't really say who made the watch... maybe no one knows. my money's on nixon...

At the risk of straying even further into the land of off-topicness... for almost all of their stuff they don't go to any great lengths to mention the manufacturer (unless it's bleedingly obvious). I think they like people to think that they're super boffins who make all the stuff themselves, even though it's patently obvious that they're just an online reseller (a pretty bloody good one at that, though...)

Ok, so here's one you guys might find interesting:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/mp3/85fb/

Spiritualized

spectrum- worth it?

spectrum- worth it?

Grr

Re: Grr

LOL

Re: Grr

Re: Grr

tssk

Re: Grr

Re: Grr

Wow