Let It Come Down

Spiritualized includes: Spaceman (vocals, banjo, harmonica, piano, keyboards); Doggen Foster (acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica);
Martin Schellard (guitar, banjo, piano, bass); John Coxon (guitar, piano, Farfisa organ, synthesizer); Raymond Dickaty (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Tim "Thighpaulsandra" Lewis (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond C-3 organ, Mini-Moog synthesizer); Tom Edwards (vibraphone, marimba, timpani, percussion, bells); Kevin Bales (drums).
Additional personnel includes: London Community Gospel Choir, Mimi Parker (background vocals).
Recorded at Air Studios and Abbey Road Studios, London, England.
Personnel: J. Spaceman (vocals, acoustic guitar, strings, harmonica, horns, piano); Mimi Parker (vocals); Heather Cairncross, Emer McParland (alto); Andrew Gray, Andrew Busher (tenor); Nigel Short (countertenor); Martin Schellard (banjo, piano, vibraphone, marimba, timpani, tubular bells, percussion); Helen Tunstall (harp); Laura Melhuish, Ann Morfee, Edmund Coxon, Perry Montague-Mason, Sonia Slaney, Dai Emanuel, Miffy Hirsch, Jonathan Rees , Christina Emanuel , Steve Morris , Ian Humphries, Patrick Kiernan, Everton Nelson, Cathy Thompson, Jackie Shave, Jeremy Morris (violin); Roger Chase, Philip Dukes, Kate Musker, Bruce White (viola); Jonathan Tunnell, Cathy Giles, Tony Pleeth, David Daniels (cello); Andy Findon (flute, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute); Dave Heath (flute, alto flute, bass flute); Tamar Osborn, Pete Whyman, David Temple (clarinet, saxophone); David Fuest (bass clarinet); Chris Cowie (oboe); Gavin McNaughton, Celia Birkenshaw (bassoon); Ray Dickaty (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Rachel Weston (alto saxophone); Gerard O'Beirne (tenor saxophone); Paul Beniston, Nick Smart, Andrew Crowley , Bob Farley, Ben Edwards , Paul Archibald, Ian Balmain (trumpet); Paul Gardham, Hugh Seenan, Richard Ashton, Richard Bissell, Michaela Betts, Nigel Black, Martin Owen, Dave Lee (French horn); Roger Brenner (trombone, bass trombone); Michael Hext, James Adams , Peter Davies , Colin Sheen, Graham Lee (trombone); David Stewart , Andy Waddicor (bass trombone); David O'Carroll (tuba); Thighpaulsandra (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Farfisa, Hammond b-3 organ, mini-Moog synthesizer); Chris Clark (piano); Diane Clark, Mary Scully (double bass); Kevin Bales (drum set).
Audio Mixers: J. Spaceman ; Mads Bjerke.
Recording information: Abbey Road; AIR Studios.
Photographer: John Ross .
Spiritualized has never been a stable group. The mythology surrounding the progressive psychedelic band reads like a tabloid article--tales of drug abuse, mental distress, and inner-band turmoil are common themes. Sparking further controversy, frontman Jason Pierce fired his entire backing band prior to recording LET IT COME DOWN. Fortunately, the arguably hasty maneuver had little effect on the overall result. While there's more of an emphasis on straightforward pop songcraft than on space-rock excursions, the classic Spiritualized sound is still present.
Although the fourth full-length Spiritualized outing has been billed as the "rehab" album, tunes like "The Twelve Steps" and "The Straight and the Narrow" suggest a man still engaged in a struggle with his narcotic demons. Sonically, LET IT COME DOWN delves further into Pierce's beloved gospel realm. Whereas earlier efforts toyed with R&B/gospel flavoring (mixed with lovely hypnotic rock), Pierce has apparently decided that this direction is now a primary focus. Many tracks feature backing vocals by choral singers, and song titles such as "Won't Get to Heaven (the State I'm In)" and "Lord Can You Hear Me" reinforce this religious motif. All in all, another fine release and welcome addition to an ever-growing Spiritualized catalog.