Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies
I own thousands of CDs. I've gathered them up over the years, in a vast number of genres. I tend to like high quality artists no matter what instrument they happen to enjoy or what style they happen to land in. It's that artisanship that draws me in.
Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized is led by talented English musician Jason Pierce. For a while he was with Spaceman 3, and then he broke off to form Spiritualized. As of 2012 he is doing both Spiritualized and solo projects. He also, sadly, is battling with cancer.
Lazer Guided Melodies was his first album released as Spiritualized. It came out in March 1992. It was stunning. What is even more amazing is that it still *is* stunning. As of the time of my writing this review I have owned the album for over ten years. It still is powerfully moving when I listen to it now. I did a fresh listen for the purpose of writing this review, to pick out my favorite songs, and I was writing down every single name. I Want You calls to my soul. Run is a take on "The Breeze" but with more of an ethereal feel. Angel Sigh can be felt as a deep breath. Sway and 200 bars keep that connection going.
How to describe the music. Some call this category "droney" or even "pot music" (as in smoking weed). I'm not sure either even begins to do it justice. I'm not a weed smoker and it's not at all "bland background noise" to me. It is more meditative, sitting cross-legged in a verdant meadow with wildflowers gently dancing in a breeze and orange-spotted butterflies landing, oh so gently, on the orange petals of a day lily. It is that infinitely delicate connection with nature, with every sound, and with every breath we draw.
Life is short. Transparently brief. And the music draws us to realize how precious life is, how beautiful a sunrise is, how the turn of a loved one's head can make one's heart stop. We hear, "girl, it's like an angel's sigh when I see you walking by. Girl you know the reason why ..." You can see that moment in time, the gentle movement of her leg, the wind in her hair, and the heart-stopping reaction.
Highly recommended.
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