GutterPutter

On being asked about whether his magnum opus, 1997’s Ladies and Gentlemen WeAre Floating In Space, was inspired by his former girlfriend’s marriage with the Verve’s Richard Ashcroft, Spiritualized’s frontman Jason Pierce denied its link. Having argued that much of the material had already been made before they break up, he even argues that much of the themes in the album were more concerned with drugs than anything else. With that being said, he does acknowledge the possibility of the listeners having their own personal take on what each song means. 

Such a notion could be easy to accept had it not been for its expository titular track. With its initial inspiration and reference from Elvis Presley’s single ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, the track sets up the theme of love, or rather, the blurring of the line between romance and addiction. In combination with Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel for the violin, this brings into attention the past and the possibility of true love to re-emerge out of the blue. These influences have helped to create a solid backbone for Spiritualized to recontextualise the intent of the song into a sincere, heartfelt yet painful declaration. When you have an interpolation to Presley’s song in “Wise men say, “only fools rush in”, “only fools rush in” / But I can’t help / Falling in love with you”, it brings into attention naivety. This sets up a bittersweet subversion of love that was removed from Presley’s original helplessness compared to Pierce’s resignation. In a way, one can see ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ as a step into first love, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space’ is more the aftermath of such a relationship crumbling apart.

The dream-like production and layering of Pierce’s vocals build up the sense of attachment that was felt to the love interest. The ringing note and synths compliment the swooning violin to add to the contrapuntalism between the traditional extravaganza of classical music and the modernity of space rock. In turn, this creates the impression of the song as being built around contradictions whether it be between genuine or artificial love, the future or past, or between inspiration and imitation. The instrumentation and the production helps to add a certain sense of dynamism, of not being a part of any point in time which would later help in the lyricism.

Of course, leading on with the lyricism, it is not unheard of for many to consider it to be one of the greatest love songs of all time. Rather than concentrate on the bond or the supposed sense of value of the love interest, it instead prioritises pure emotional value. What could have been pointlessly selfish meandering was instead flipped on its head to show the utter obsession and passion the narrator is expressing. “All I Want in life’s a little bit of love / To take the pain away,” goes the hushed singing of Pierce, “Getting strong today / A giant step each day”. This allusion to drug addiction which is a major theme in much of Spiritualized’s songs make for a strong connection between how addictive love itself can be. 

To me, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space’ is a masterpiece of a song for how it sought to flip the script on Presley’s song into an examination of love’s consequences. Its adoption of other influences like Pachelbel’s composition or psychedelia enabled it to come off as a bricolage that stood the test of time. It does not age at all thanks to its instrumentation and its production; it hovers like an abstract representation. In its ability to stand out both for its implicit context surrounding personal life and its lack of elaborate details, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space’ is a masterpiece of a love song. In its insular ways, we can still feel its influence vibrate over other works including ‘Always Together with You’ by the same band.