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Editorial Review:
The title Songs to Sing in A&E isn't simply a reference to Jason Pierce's chords of choice on this, the sixth album from Spiritualized. Rather, it's a blackly comic reference to the events that preceded this album's creation--specifically, a bout of pneumonia that saw Pierce fighting for his life from a hospital bed. Spiritualized, however, have always specialised in transforming personal travails into great art, and there's something morbidly compelling about a song like "Death Takes Your Fiddle", a chilly blues song accompanied by the wheeze of an artificial respirator. There may be some unfortunate repercussions from Pierce's illness: his voice sounds somewhat frail in comparison to the brave soul we found on 1997's Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space, and this rather seems to expose occasional shortcomings in his lyrics (to follow a song called "I Gotta Fire" with "Soul on Fire" and then "Sitting on Fire" suggests wells of inspiration may be running low). One thing's for sure, though, Pierce is a fine arranger. Lush strings, choirs and flourishes of percussion flesh out simple acoustic songs into impressive symphonies. Meanwhile, "Yeah Yeah" proves Pierce still has a way with an itchy, strung-out blues stomp. --Louis Pattison
'Songs In A&E' is the sixth studio album from Jason Pierce's Spiritualized. With a mixture of instrumental and vocal tracks, including a duet with Harmony Korine's wife Rachel on 'Don't Hold Me Close', the music has plenty of dark overtones and leans heavily towards themes of mortality. However, typical of Spiritualized, it still manages to be an uplifting listen. A collection of post-rock melodies that will please long time fans, as well as people new to Pierce's work. Includes the single 'Soul On Fire'.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Serious return to form I've never been one for the jazz themed white noise thrashouts so beloved of Mr Pierce, but always loved the droney cathedral rock of his earlier days (which I appreciate is just as unmusical to some ears - I absolutely love Pure Phase). Ladies and Gentlemen is undoubtedly his masterpiece (jazz themed white noise thrashouts notwithstanding), but why oh why did I not buy a second copy and keep the first fresh in its pill box? Anyway, post L&G the work declined. Some decent stuff on Let it come down,... more info
A healthy dose of soulful fire The first that struck me about Songs In A&E was how grainy Jason Pierce's voice sounds. Anyone would think he had been ill or something ..... Putting aside such crass attempts at humour it's surely common knowledge by now that Songs In A&E was recorded after a life threatening dose of pneumonia for the Spiritualized front man. Indeed the album is dedicated to the staff at The Royal London Hospital . And he does sound different ....more fragile and hoarse ,but the music is still a wonderful blast of... more info
Better than the Last Two This is a very good album. Yes, it's a million miles from 'Lazer Guided Melodies' and certainly no 'Ladies and Gentlemen...', but it has its own charm, honesty and some stand-out tracks.
I found some fine songs on 'Let it Come Down'(2001) but really struggled with 'Amazing Grace' (2003), but I prefer this to either of those albums. Largely stripped down, with lo-fi production similar to that on 'Amazing Grace' the songs are generally much better here. I'm not surprised that on the band's... more info
Poor prognosis Having enjoyed the albums of the 90's which were on a different level to most contemporary British music, I am afraid to say that the quality of output since LAGWAFIS has been in steady decline and unfortunately Songs in A&E does little to reverse this trend. Soul on Fire, Sweet Talk and You Lie, You Cheat are the most accessible tunes, the rest are directionless or trying to re-capture the magic of former glories-but ultimately failing. However, I judge this album by the impossibly high standards set... more info
