Spiritualized - 'Amazing Grace' (Sanctuary)
4/5
By: Toby L
Primordial, you could say.
Spiritualized, aka Jason Pierce, have returned with their starkest, least-produced and most frantic opus of an album, possibly, to date. Seemingly, this is with good cause; whereas the lush textures of 2001's 'Let It Come Down' warranted several memorable moments, it was the haphazard, poised and miraculous 'Ladies & Gentlemen...' that has been defined the career-classic.
'Amazing Grace' then, recorded in an intensive two and a half weeks in Rockfield Studios, follows more closely in that respect: eleven songs long, ranging from wild, lucid, live-band thrashes, such as the introducing 'This Little Life Of Mine', or present-single 'She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)', through to the lighter-waving balladry of yore which has defined Pierce's melodrama - distinctly, a bluesy 'Hold On', or the reach-out, euphoric majesty of 'Oh Baby'.
Where it really gets embracing, though, is when the synchronicity veers from that of sheer, emotive, uplifting soul, and progresses into realms the sound itself seemingly doesn't anticipate - as demonstrable on a jazzy, reckless sprawl of an instrumental, 'The Power & The Glory' - or slow-burn, round-the-campfire warmth of 'Lord Let It Rain On Me', complete with an inspired, distant choir-inclusion.
'The Ballad of Richie Lee', meanwhile, is close to Portishead in its sleazy, smoky haze, the pace given a final perk for the Primal Scream blast of 'Cheapster', before crawling to an ambient, gospel close in the dual-assault of the heart-breaking 'Rated X' and simplistically healing, hopeful 'Lay It Down Slow'. Conclusively, not the bold leap we expected. Nor the shambolic mess we were dreading.
So it's grand, you could say that; Pierce's concept of the notion 'minimalism' is - ironically - minimal. But not many can croon in a weedy, seedy tone, 'You've got to hold on to those you hold dear,' and get away with it with quite the same sincerity and charm as our Spaceman Jason. These may be distant galaxies travelled, but hardly uncharted territory. So long as the view remains interesting, however, few are likely to desire a pit-stop, or a phone home.
Artists in this article: Spiritualized
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