Songs in A&E
Encyclopedia
Songs in A&E is the sixth studio album by the group Spiritualized
and is their first since 2003's Amazing Grace. It was released on May 26, 2008 in the UK on Sanctuary Records
and on May 27 in the USA on Fontana Records
. It was released on standard CD worldwide, as well as a limited edition book (with further artwork) and double 12" vinyl in the UK. The album's first single was "Soul on Fire," released on May 19, 2008 in the UK. Frontman Jason Pierce
has said that the album is "the work of The Devil...with a little guidance from me."
The album leaked onto the internet on March 29, 2008.
with bilateral pneumonia
with rapid deterioration requiring intensive care and c-pap for type 1 respiratory failure
. Indeed, the album takes its title from the long period Pierce spent in the Accident and Emergency ward
(A&E) during this illness and it is also dedicated to the staff at The Royal London Hospital where he was treated.
However, most of the songs were written before Jason fell ill. The record was about a family that wasn't his, but when he revisited them Jason felt it predicted his near-death experience in some way. After his recovery, Jason was hesitant to finish the album, but a meeting with cult film director Harmony Korine
inspired him to complete it. He also released a solo experimental record, Guitar Loops, and recorded the soundtrack to Korine's 2008 film Mister Lonely
, with the Sun City Girls
. The six Harmony tracks on the album are named after the director.
Jason wrote most of the songs on a 1929 Gibson
L/00 (referred to as 'The Devil' in the liner notes
) he bought in Cincinnati.
has described the album's sound as "touching and harrowing [...and] belligerent."
The album features a number of guest vocalists, including backing vocals from The Dirtbombs
on "Yeah Yeah" and a duet with film-maker Harmony Korine
's wife, Rachel on "Don't Hold Me Close." The album also introduces a greater influence of string arrangements to Spiritualized's sound. Pierce credits the compositions of the album's orchestrations to his paucity of technical skill. "I don't write music. So I just sing what I want into a tape machine. That way I'm not limited by what I can't play."
The ending of the last track, "Goodnight Goodnight," features a brief lyrical and melodic nod to Daniel Johnston
's "Funeral Home" (from his albums Continued Story and 1990), which itself is a nod to Bruce Springsteen
. Pierce has stated this was a 'thank-you' to the singer, as Pierce's first live performance after his recovery was supporting Johnston at a tribute concert, in which he played a version of Funeral Home, as well as two other Johnston songs.
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
and is their first since 2003's Amazing Grace. It was released on May 26, 2008 in the UK on Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
and on May 27 in the USA on Fontana Records
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
. It was released on standard CD worldwide, as well as a limited edition book (with further artwork) and double 12" vinyl in the UK. The album's first single was "Soul on Fire," released on May 19, 2008 in the UK. Frontman Jason Pierce
Jason Pierce
Jason Pierce , also known as J. Spaceman or Spaceman, is an English musician. He was formerly the joint leader – with Peter Kember – of the alternative rock band Spacemen 3, and is now the leader and sole permanent member of the band Spiritualized.In between his work with Spiritualized...
has said that the album is "the work of The Devil...with a little guidance from me."
The album leaked onto the internet on March 29, 2008.
Background
Songs in A&E comes five years after Spiritualized's previous album - 2003's Amazing Grace - and following Pierce's near death experience in 2005, after he had contracted advanced periorbital cellulitisPeriorbital cellulitis
Periorbital cellulitis, also known as preseptal cellulitis , is an inflammation and infection of the eyelid and portions of skin around the eye, anterior to the orbital septum...
with bilateral pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia is bronchopneumonia that develops due to the entrance of foreign materials into the bronchial tree, usually oral or gastric contents...
with rapid deterioration requiring intensive care and c-pap for type 1 respiratory failure
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
. Indeed, the album takes its title from the long period Pierce spent in the Accident and Emergency ward
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
(A&E) during this illness and it is also dedicated to the staff at The Royal London Hospital where he was treated.
However, most of the songs were written before Jason fell ill. The record was about a family that wasn't his, but when he revisited them Jason felt it predicted his near-death experience in some way. After his recovery, Jason was hesitant to finish the album, but a meeting with cult film director Harmony Korine
Harmony Korine
The story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
inspired him to complete it. He also released a solo experimental record, Guitar Loops, and recorded the soundtrack to Korine's 2008 film Mister Lonely
Mister Lonely
Mister Lonely is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine, and co-written with his brother Avi Korine.-Plot:A young American man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Michael Jackson look-alike, dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows. During a show in...
, with the Sun City Girls
Sun City Girls
The Sun City Girls were an American experimental rock band, formed in 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona. From 1981 the group consisted of Alan Bishop , his brother Richard Bishop , and the late Charles Gocher . Their name was inspired by Sun City, Arizona, an Arizona retirement community...
. The six Harmony tracks on the album are named after the director.
Jason wrote most of the songs on a 1929 Gibson
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
L/00 (referred to as 'The Devil' in the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
) he bought in Cincinnati.
Music
Musically the album marks a return to "the more expansive elements of [Pierce's] sound [...] even though it features the fewest noise-scapes and most terse songs in Spiritualized's history." The Observer Music MonthlyThe Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
has described the album's sound as "touching and harrowing [...and] belligerent."
New songs such as "Death Take Your Fiddle" and, especially, "Sitting on Fire" - which sounds as if Pierce recorded the vocal from his deathbed - are eerily prescient, while "Don't Hold Me Close," a tender duet with film-maker Harmony KorineHarmony KorineThe story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
's wife, Rachel, recalls Gram ParsonsGram ParsonsGram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
and Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
[...] Throughout the album there are interludes of church chimes, otherworldly beeps and odd noises. In places it could be mistaken for an album of elevator musicElevator musicElevator music refers to instrumental arrangements of popular music designed for playing in shopping malls, grocery stores, department stores, telephone systems , cruise ships, airports, doctors' and dentists' offices, and elevators...
made for funeral homes and released on electronic label WarpWarp RecordsWarp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
. It is quite a trip.
The album features a number of guest vocalists, including backing vocals from The Dirtbombs
The Dirtbombs
The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup...
on "Yeah Yeah" and a duet with film-maker Harmony Korine
Harmony Korine
The story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
's wife, Rachel on "Don't Hold Me Close." The album also introduces a greater influence of string arrangements to Spiritualized's sound. Pierce credits the compositions of the album's orchestrations to his paucity of technical skill. "I don't write music. So I just sing what I want into a tape machine. That way I'm not limited by what I can't play."
The ending of the last track, "Goodnight Goodnight," features a brief lyrical and melodic nod to Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
's "Funeral Home" (from his albums Continued Story and 1990), which itself is a nod to Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
. Pierce has stated this was a 'thank-you' to the singer, as Pierce's first live performance after his recovery was supporting Johnston at a tribute concert, in which he played a version of Funeral Home, as well as two other Johnston songs.
Track listing
All songs written by J Spaceman.- "Harmony 1 (Mellotron)" - 0:24
- "Sweet Talk" - 4:05
- "Death Take Your Fiddle" - 3:14
- "I Gotta Fire" - 2:28
- "Soul on Fire" - 4:08
- "Harmony 2 (Piano)" - 0:43
- "Sitting on Fire" - 4:38
- "Yeah Yeah" - 2:28
- "You Lie You Cheat" - 3:04
- "Harmony 3 (Voice)" - 0:18
- "Baby I'm Just a Fool" - 7:07
- "Don't Hold Me Close" - 3:08
- "Harmony 4 (The Old Man...)" - 1:33
- "The Waves Crash In" - 4:08
- "Harmony 5 (Accordion)" - 1:04
- "Borrowed Your Gun" - 3:48
- "Harmony 6 (Glockenspiel)" - 0:51
- "Goodnight Goodnight" - 4:38
Singles
- "Soul on Fire" (May 19, 2008)
- CD: "Soul on Fire" (Single Edit) / "True Love Will Find You in the End" (Daniel JohnstonDaniel JohnstonDaniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
cover) / "Harmony 2 (And Then a Miracle...)" - 7" red-colored vinyl: "Soul on Fire" (Single Edit) / "True Love Will Find You in the End"
- CD: "Soul on Fire" (Single Edit) / "True Love Will Find You in the End" (Daniel Johnston
- "Sweet Talk" / "You Lie You Cheat" (November 10, 2008)
- 7" #1: "Sweet Talk" (Single Edit) / "You Lie You Cheat" (Live BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Session) - 7" #2: "You Lie You Cheat" / "Sweet Talk" (Live BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Session)
- 7" #1: "Sweet Talk" (Single Edit) / "You Lie You Cheat" (Live BBC