Hear This

Spiritualized make drug music -- pretty, intelligent, intricate drug music that alternately drives and sways, dips and ascends. Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space, the fourth Spiritualized record since 1992, is mastermind Jason Pierce's finest set since he left Spacemen 3 in an explosive personality conflict with Sonic Boom (aka Pete Kember) seven years ago. The ambitious undertaking -- Pierce orchestrates 20 listed musicians (including 30-year heroin vet Dr. John on keys), a full choir, and a team of 11 engineers -- explores two themes, one lyrical, the other musical. With his words, Pierce (aka Spaceman) aims to draw what he sees as an inextricable connection between love and drugs. In Pierce's world, the best things are equally destructive. On "Home of the Brave," for instance, he sings, "I don't even miss you but that's just 'cause I'm fucked up/ I'm sure when it wears off then I will be hurting." Whether he'll be lovesick or junk sick is unclear.

Musically, Pierce wants to convey feelings, not thoughts. He accomplishes this (as he's done on past Spiritualized and Spacemen records) by layering layer upon layer, each of which drifts in and out of the mix but stands distinct when it's there. On "Electricity," Sean Cook's catchy, melodic bass lines pull us in, then retreat, leaving us caught inside the song with the claustrophobic, feedback-heavy squiggles and wailing harmonica. (This particular effect is especially noticeable in concert.) "Broken Heart" breathes with soft horns and string arrangements.

Spiritualized are amazing live. Two years ago at Slim's, the band played at an ungodly, but clean, decibel level, seemingly loud enough to blot out anything but the present. To compensate for musician lethargy (they're addicts, all right), the performance included the band's own trance-inducing light show, which at times, coupled with the disorienting volume, created a sensation something like floating in space. Or, sure, being on drugs.

-- Jeff Stark

Spiritualized play Friday, Aug. 29, at 9 p.m. at Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus (at Chestnut). DJ Aaron of Subsonic opens. Tickets are $12; call 474-0365.