Spiritualized and Fat Possum Records have announced the first stage of The Spaceman Reissue Program: definitive vinyl releases of the first four Spiritualized albums. Curated by frontman Jason Pierce, the series will kick off 23 April with Spiritualized’s 1992 debut LP: Lazer Guided Melodies. 

Elevating the gritty, narcotic garage blues of Pierce’s recently disbanded Spacemen 3 into a crystalline space rock / pop wall of sound, Lazer Guided Melodies was recorded from 1990 to 1991, its 12 songs divided into four distinct movements. Reflecting on the transition from Spacemen 3 to the first realisation of the Spiritualized sound, Pierce recalls: “The last Spacemen 3 record was under-realised to me. When I listen back to that stuff it sounds like somebody finding their way. There was a lot of ideas but no way to put them into a space that would make them all work. So, there was a huge freedom forging over the last Spacemen 3 record and when Spiritualized started it was like, ‘OK it’s all yours. Go.’ 

“We recorded the tracks in the studio near my flat which was a place where they predominantly recorded advertising jingles and it’s where we made all the Spacemen 3 records, but then the recordings were taken to Battery Studios in London, to explore a more professional way of making music… Once I approached that way of doing things it opened up a whole world and I was astounded that somebody could take those tracks and turn it into the record it became…” 

Lazer Guided Melodies will be the first in this series of 180g double albums mastered from a half speed lacquer cut from original sources by Alchemy Mastering, presented in a gatefold jacket adorned by reworked art by Mark Farrow, and available in both a standard black vinyl pressing and limited edition white vinyl exclusive to D2C / indie retail.

Alongside the vinyl reissue, for a limited time there will also be a comprehensive series of Lazer Guided Melodies merchandise based on original vintage designs available via spiritualized.com.

Lazer Guided Melodies tracklisting:

  1. You Know It’s True
  2. If I Were With Her Now
  3. I Want You
  4. Run
  5. Smiles
  6. Step Into The Breeze
  7. Symphony Space
  8. Take Your Time
  9. Shine A Light
  10. Angel Sigh
  11. Sway
  12. 200 Bars

 

Photo by Colin Bell