Spiritualized Prep New Album; J. Spaceman On Mister Lonely Soundtrack

04/17/08 5:00pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Fans of J. Spaceman will be able to get a long-overdue double shot of his music in the coming weeks with the release of a new Spiritualized album and the Mister Lonely soundtrack.

Mark your calendars for April 22, when the soundtrack will be released by Drag City Records. It features 19 tracks, many of which were penned by J. Spaceman (real name Jason Pierce) and Arizona experimental music group Sun City Girls. The film — which stars Diego Luna, Samantha Morton and Werner Herzog — is already in theatres.

You'll also want to highlight June 3 in your day-timer, since that's when Songs In A&E, Spiritualized's sixth studio album, hits stores via Fontana International/Spaceman Records. The 18-track disc is the band's first studio effort since 2003's Amazing Grace. The first single is "Soul On Fire."

Spiritualized formed in 1990 as the result of a schism between Peter Kember (a.k.a. Sonic Boom) and Pierce, who were then members of space rock pioneers Spacemen 3. After leaving Spacemen 3, bassist Will Carruthers, drummer Jonny Mattock and guitarist Mark Refoy convinced Pierce to join their new band, which became Spiritualized. The three musicians left in the early '90s, leaving Pierce as the only original member.

Spiritualized scored critical and commercial success with 1997's Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, which topped the U.K. sales chart. But despite its success, bassist Sean Cook, drummer Damon Reece and guitarist Michael Mooney turned against Pierce after the album was released and threatened to go on strike, citing what they considered to be low salaries as a major sore point. In response, Pierce drew up new contracts between himself and the three — which he ironically used to fire them several years later. Spiritualized's current lineup consists of Pierce (vocals, guitar), Thighpaulsandra (keyboards), Tom Edwards (percussion), Martin Schellard (bass), Doggen (guitar), John Coxon (guitar) and Kevin Bales (drums).

Catch Spiritualized at Toronto's Virgin Festival on Sept. 6.

Here's what's on Songs In A&E:

"Harmony 1"Sweet Talk"
"Death Take Your Fiddle"
"I Gotta Fire"
"Soul On Fire"
"Harmony 2"
"Sitting On Fire"
"Yeah Yeah"
"You Lie You Cheat"
"Harmony 3"
"Baby I'm Just A Fool"
"Don't Hold Me Close"
"Harmony 4"
"The Waves Crash"
"Harmony 5"
"Borrowed Your Gun"
"Harmony 6"
"Goodnight Goodnight"

Here are the tracks on the Mister Lonely soundtrack:

"Michael's Opening" (Dialogue)
Jason Spaceman — "Blues 1"
Jason Spaceman — "Blues 2 (Intro)"
Sun City Girls — "3D Girls"
Jason Spaceman — "Panama 1"
Sun City Girls — "Spook"
Jason Spaceman — "Garden Walk"
Sun City Girls — "Steppe Spiritual"
Jason Spaceman — "Pope In The Bath"
"Nun's Prayer" (Dialogue)
Sun City Girls — "Mr. Lonely Viola"
Sun City Girls — "Beryl Scepter""
Red Riding Hood's Hangman" (Dialogue)
Jason Spaceman — "Stooges Harmonica"
"Father Umbrillo's Broken Nation"
Jason Spaceman — "Musicbox Underwater"
Sun City Girls — "Circus Theme"
Sun City Girls — "Vine Street Piano"
Jason Spaceman — "Paris Beach"
Sun City Girls — "Farewell"