Jason Pierce (aka J. Spaceman) of Spiritualized announced in February that his legendary space-rock band would republish their first four albums: On April 23, 1992, Lazer Guided Melodies was released, followed by Pure Phase in 1995. Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, Spiritualized’s 1997 album that featured contributions from Dr. John, the London Community Gospel Choir, and pedal steel guitarist B.J. Cole, will be reissued by Fat Possum Records in September.
Pierce said in a statement, “Looking back on making what is largely regarded as the band’s best work,
“We went out to America ahead of recording this record. John [Coxon] had joined on guitar and I’d recorded the title track and a number of other demos that ended up on the finished record.
But we got to play ‘Cop Shoot Cop’ and ‘Electricity’ live and to work them out before we recorded them for the record and then John became integral to the band. He came from a world of Syl Johnson and Al Green, Teenie Hodges, and Reggie Young; a different world within the guitar lines. And then there was Kate [Radley]’s hugely influential keyboard that was relentless and loud.”
Pierce also revealed how he managed to get Dr. John to play on the record. “With Dr. John, I just wrote a letter, sent the track and his response was immediate. He said, ‘Absolutely, absolutely, love it.’ It was where he wanted to be. I was completely in awe of him and his playing and everything he put to it. I could hardly speak, to be honest. Not that I needed to speak much. It didn’t add anything little or less to the proceedings. It was an amazing session, amazing to do.”
