Spirtualized: Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating through space
By tunequest June 19, 2007
From the album Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating through space (1997).
Composed in “round” format, where each sung line overlaps another in a recursive way, Spiritualized’s Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating through space is a science and technology-era mantra, a chant to the lords of pharmaceutically-inspired altered states and a wistful, strung-out love song.
This is seriously space out, and transcendental, trance-inducing music, but it trades in new-age ethereality for the cold science (exemplified by the interspersion of NASA beeps) of modern progress. In steep contrast though, the lyrics reveal a tenderness and longing for love.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
What I Love: The song’s out-of-focus dreaminess.
Do you have the canceled “Can’t help falling in love” version too? I was able to splice them together but cutting over from the album version right at the double drum hit. Sure, it makes the lyrics contradict themselves, but putting Elvis through Jason makes it almost literally transcendent. Put “Vapour Trail” by Ride right after it on a mix and you’ve really got somethin.
I’ve read about the Elvis version, but have never been able to track it down. I can imagine though, that it’s something to behold.