Playing With Fire

I don’t know what the right drug to pair with this is, but it doesn’t seem to be coffee.

Like a garage band of college dropouts tried to make an album inspired by the generic new-age music playlist they heard in the waiting room of the “discount massage parlor” they frequent.

I like listening to music. One of the reasons I like it is because musicans can do something I cannot. The exception is this album. I'm quite sure I could do this.

where is spacemen 1 and 2

What a big dumb nothing burger

Ooh, I am diggin' the drones. Noisy, repetitive, driving. This is exactly my thing. Hints of 60s punk (MC5 and Stooges), 70s krautrock, and 80s no wave, this really hangs together. It's a collage of musical references built into a whole new thing. The NY Times obituary for Lou Reed referred to him as the godfather o f"high IQ, low technique" rock and roll. and that's exactly what this is. I could listen to this all day. I never knew where to start with Spacemen 3 (although I am long time Spiritualized fan), but I think I need to rush out and buy this record. I have been listening to this all day. It's magical noise.

Meditative, exploratory, hypnotic. Warm and fuzzy, cold and brittle. A universe of music. Animal Collective took a lot from these guys, especially their patience. Never heard this band before, look forward to learning a lot more about them.

"Playing with Fire" is the third studio album from the English neo-pyschedelia space rock band Spacemen 3. The two main members of Spacemen 3 were Pete Kember "Sonic Boom" who went on to produce indie bands and Jason Pierce "J Spaceman" who went on to form Spiritualized. Well, forget what they went on to do for the time, this here is quite the album with some very high, high points. The music is pretty much an intersection of The Velvet Underground, The Stooges and Suicide. Yet, it is their own, almost a genre unto itself. Spacey keboards/organs, multi-layered guitars. Yes, I'm in. "Honey" gets things going with an organ giving a church feel (not the last time). A slow guitar repetitively playing one note a la The Velvet Underground. Spacey keyboards. Distorted lyrics. A love song. Alright, let's go and wake me up on song five, "Revolution." This is hard rock...distorted guitars, drums. The lyrics obviously mimicking The Stooges..."I'm sick. I'm tired." A song promoting drug use. Getting told what to do by people and the government and fed up. Ends in guitar chaos. A brilliant song. Let's continue the brilliance with "Suicide," an 11-minute ode to the band of the same name. Distorted, reverbed guitars. Repetitive noises and beats. A repetitive drone sound. This song reminded me of what Spiritualized would become. Great guitar end. The album ends with another great song "Lord Can You Hear Me." A very soulful and spiritual sounding song and a cry to God for help. At first I thought I was listening to R.E.M.'s "Everbody Hurts" with the slow guitar. A fitting ending. Being a a fan of The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Suicide and Spiritualized, it was pretty obvious that I would be a big fan of this album. The songs that I mentioned are some of my favorite songs of the 1980's. A very high album recommendation from me.

Jack_Nicholson_maniacally_nodding_yes.gif Awwww yeah, this is exactly my jam. Hypnotic, repetitive, drifting in and out of ambient. You can see the foundations of what would become Spiritualized but it's not as lush - raw, jagged edges. Fave track - "Revolution" and "Suicide" are both bangers....

its good but largely irrelevant

New to me, no prior knowledge. Looked at the track list after listening on YT and realized my playlist didn't include 2 tracks, "Honey" and "Suicide", so I didn't initially hear it in album sequence. 1 Honey - calm beginning with added vibrating electric sound; interesting arrangement 7/10 2 Come Down Softly to My Soul - It's pretty mellow. I'm getting a weird Partridge Family/Simon & Garfunkel mashup vibe. I'm kinda diggin' it! 8/10 3 How Does It Feel? - very dreamy sounding, kinda space-like vibe, slow build-up without losing the dreamstate; hypnotic 9/10 4 I Believe It - another space-y feel with an organ; interesting 8/10 5 Revolution - much more electric, lyrics primarily spoken; the electric sound is fitting with the lyrics 8/10 6 Let Me Down Gently - Another hypnotic piece with a steady drum beat, organ enters; oh, I get it. The drum is a heartbeat and the organ represents the emotions, at least the lyrics make it seem that way. I like this one! 8/10 7 So Hot (Wash Away All My Tears) - simple music and lyrics, very peaceful 8/10 8 Suicide - more electric guitar than the others, feels like the state of mind one would be in based on the title, no lyrics 5 minutes in, added feedback 7 minutes in, 8:40 the added drums feels like we're almost at the climax, 9:50 feels like spinning out of control, 10:40 begins to fade out, 11min ends; certainly feels like being out of control 8/10 9 Lord Can You Hear Me? - musically feels like Simon & Garfunkel again with an added smattering of electric guitar in the chorus, ooh a little sax now; extremely interesting sound 8/10 I could see this feeling monotonous to some people but listening to it as a story, I find It very compelling! It sounds like a story of a person going through the stages of a breakup. I plan to look up the story behind this album. I liked it without knowing the intent. I think it may be more impressive knowing the storyline to drive it though. I would give this one another listen for its unique flavor! Although, I think this is likely a love it or hate it sound for most people. Creativity makes this a 5-star for me!

'Playing With Fire' is considered a psychedelic album but what is heard can be far more confusing. The use of minutes-long wave synths repetition combined with the sudden and unexpected instrument added here and there makes it a disconcerted presentation overall. Hollow, flat, and almost dull become fitting descriptions of the album arrangement - it feels as if the record is unsure of "how" it wants to be, not necessarily "what" it wants to be.

#310. I have no idea about anything about this band, and instead of looking it up, I'm just going to make something up instead. I have decided that Spacemen 3 is in fact three aliens from space, who come from a place where music has never existed, and have tried their hand at the concept themselves. This isn't very good, but they're trying their best, OK? If they keep trying, maybe they'll make something actually passable as human music. 2/5: zeep zorp

Melodramatic and boring

Playing With Fire? I wanted to set it on fire.

I really like psychodelic rock and this is not an exception. Didnt knew the exitstence of this guys before and that is why i love this generator.

Pretty good, but this feels like another example of the people writing the list skipping over the obvious classic for a second or third best choice. Why this album over Perfect Prescription? Why Warehouse by Husker Du over Zen Arcade? Why Blue Lines and Protection by Massive Attack over Mezzanine? Head scratchers, the lot of 'em.

I really liked some things about this, the way the tracks built up energy was interesting and Suicide was cool. However, it was kind of mind-numbing sitting and listening to an entire album that's this minimalistic/repetitive. 6/10

J'écris ces quelques lignes dans une colère noire: cela fait maintenant plusieurs semaines, que dis-je semaines, cela fait maintenant plusieurs mois que Robert s'amuse à nous distiller des albums d'une banalité effarante, dénués de tout intérêt. Chaque matin quand je me reveille et me rend sur mon générateur, qui autrefois fut mon générateur favori, je ne vibre plus, je suis résigné d'avance à voir un nom complétement inconnu s'afficher sur mon écran. Une fois l'album lancé, 30 secondes me suffisent en général pour décréter que l'album sera inintéressant. Je n'ai rien contre les Spacemen 3 en particulier, ils ne sont pas plus nuls que les autres, ils arrivent tout simplement au mauvais moment. Pour l'ensemble de l'oeuvre de Robert, je vais donc accorder la note de 2/5 à cet album, faisant d'avantage office de bruit que de musique. [...] Mea culpa, j'ai écrit ce review avant d'avoir fini l'album, les Spacemen 3 méritent amplement ce 2/5, voir même plus puisque je vais leur accorder la note de 1/5 la faute à l'horrible Suicide présent sur l'album en tant que 8ème piste.

Playing With Fire either shrinks into the background, contently becoming invisible turn-of-the-decade ambient music or it gets all spikey and post-punk and noisy when it randomly feels like it (but the Skeptics already got there and got there better). This album retcons itself, with the late 80s album art being the only memorable thing about it.

oh shit! I thought this came out in like the early 2000s like “huh, this is a pretty good alternative album” blows my fucking mind this is from 1989 anyway, beautiful album a bit long, it’s got some lengthy slow-jams but I’m all for that, 10/10

Excellent stuff. Weirdly reminiscent to early 1970s pink Floyd

Wonderful album!!

So I had never heard of Spacemen 3 before, so “Playing With Fire” was definitely an experiment for me… Was quickly disappointed, as a primarily synth-driven album is not exactly in my musical wheelhouse… Quick observations were – - Most of the tracks were just not all that interesting to be honest, and while I tend to enjoy hypnotic music – the particular repetitive rhythms that run throughout most of this album were just boring… - The “vocals” if you can call them that, were hardly worth the time – both in terms of lyrical quality, as well as vocal quality… In fact, on a couple of tracks that I thought were the more reasonable ones, they were absolutely ruined by the absolutely awful vocal component… This album should have been all instrumental like “Explosions In The Sky” or another band like that – which would have resulted in a much better musical experience from my perspective… - On the positive side, I did find “Revolution” & “Suicide” to be somewhat compelling – with the later being the most interesting track on the album… I listened on TIDAL, and the remaster had a live version of “Suicide” which was really well-done – and I’d give that song a 4-stars out of 7 in my rating scale, so there is that… Nothing crazy here, but the best part of a pretty lackluster album… Giving it a 2 based on the 2 songs that I found most compelling…

Soooooo boring.

Thanks to 1001 albums list, I now know how much I hate this ambient shoegaze stuff.

🤡🗑️🍑🚽🚮

I don't mind psychedelic rock when it's done creatively, but this album gives nothing but an hour of mostly unpleasant, monotonous noise. 1.5 stars

Au contraire, I did not have to listen to this before I died.

Oh Nooooooo!! A 2-hour album that I never heard...please please please be good. Well, so much for that hope..... Starts with heavy psychedelic vibe. I guess you've gotta love a guitar player whose name is Sonic Boom. However, there is very little (read: no) booming going on in track #3, HOW DO YOU FEEL, sonic or otherwise, a spoken word repetitive drone. The title of track #4, I BELIEVE IT, answers the question "Do you suffer from a feeling of over-self-importance?" The semi-decent songs are too short and the crappy songs are too long...make that way to long. I question the decision to include this album in the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Personally, I would include it in the list of albums to avoid at all costs. Another album that I won't get through. I would give this 0 stars if I could. ⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 49 🎧 LPs left to review: 952 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 16 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 13

Snooooooooore

I hadn’t heard of this album or group, so I had no expectations. It ended up on my favorites list. This was such a vibe and transported me somewhere else in a different time.

Another brand new artist for me. Wasn’t sure what to expect and was nervous about the run time but it was a joy. I liked how each song had a certain hook that they explored from different sides, reminded me of Pink Floyd. Really can’t believe this came out in ‘89.. I think ‘Lord can you Hear Me’ will be most people’s favorite as the most “song”-y track I feel like I want to be stingy with my 5/5 ratings but this album was my jam.

Equal parts ethereal new age and ripping proto-punk, all my favorite bands' favorite band (and honestly, one of my favorite bands too)

This is mesmerizing and magnificent and I absolutely love it! The extra demos and mixes detract from the original though

A nice psychedelic record. Jay Spaceman is a genius.

Wow, this lead to a lot of cool stuff I have never heard

I love shoegaze!!

Spacemen 3 are arguably my favourite band. This, their 3rd album is seen as their peak creative output by critics, but I think their best is their second, 'The Perfect Prescription', which is my favourite album of all time. However, this still in my top 30 and is one of the best examples of neo-psychedelia in the last 35 years. Admittedly it took me a few listens back in 89 to get into it as it was fundamentally different to their debut album 'Sound of Confusion' which was a straight up Stooges/MC5/13th Floor Elevators noise fest, but the drugs kept flowing into a different vein by the time they made 'Playing with Fire'. The two main men, Kember and Pierce, have two very different styles of playing and vocal delivery, which complement each other so well. Kember's fixation with drones and predominantly using 2 chords, together with Pierce's ear for simple melody, which was unified with their shared love of experimentalism and noise. ‘Honey’ is probably Pete Kember's best song on this album, closely followed by the MC5 inspired 'Revolution'. Jason Pierce's tunes are as usual beautifully fragile. The fractures in their relationship is evident on this album with separate writing credits, except for the massive ode to Rev and Vega with 'Suicide' a 9 minute psyche-out blast of 2 note noise. I never got to see them live, but have seen their later bands many times where they have played all these over the years, which I'll take! Most people won't get it, but I love it and it is a straight high 5.

Oh man I love it! Crazy I never heard about it before

Wtf how did I miss this

I feel like calling this shoegaze is a misnomer. It's more like third eye complete dissociation staring into the void. They hit a nearly perfectly balanced hypnotic minimalism here that I love to crawl inside, lay down, and just let it wash over me. This is their best album, and I actually prefer it to what came later with Spiritualized - perhaps due to it being slightly more raw and stripped down. Sounds equally good on headphones as I imagine it would live. I would have loved to have seen them perform this in its day, but alas, I was only 9 years old, and was more into Batman than drugs.

Another 2-hour epic, but wow. This is phenomenal! It hits my yes button in all the right places. Not sure what's happening here, maybe I was just in the right headspace to hear this today? Regardless, I will definitely listen more often.

Perfect mix of VU, Suicide and Stooges, as noted in some other review. Only really started to listen to Spacemen 3 when Spritualized was releasing Ladies and Gentlemen and had ignored them before, but yeah, this is still great.

this was pretty great! just weird enough to be interesting, just poppy enough to be listenable, just ambient enough to work to. really scratched an itch for me

Best played loud. This is my type of music, so where some may fine it grating, I get a sense of euphoria as the noise hits me and takes me on a ride

Yeah, kind a love this

Dreamy, driving. Witnessing God through a frosted pane.

Vaya, muy bien.

Cool as shit shoegaze

Psychedelic

Please stop complaining and embrace the drone.

Before Spititualized, we had Spacemen 3. Less pop, more ambient space rock with long drones and unconventional song structures. Playing With Fire has a much more crisp and atmospheric production than their prior 2 albums, which is necessary for the world they're trying to create. Honey 2/5: A weak and anticlimactic intro that ends awkwardly. Come Down Softly To My Soul 3/5: A slow and groovy track, like a quieter and ambient Primal Scream scream. The guitars give off a 60s folk vibe, and I like how the violins and other space effects struggle to come in and out, which gives it a 3-dimensional feel. The ending is a bit drawn out, and it's still weird placed at the beginning without any hooks. How Does It Feel 2/5: Dumb intro words. Very krautrock. I like following the guitar, but the novelty goes away quickly due to how exhaustingly long and minimalist it is. I do sorta like the last couple minutes, except for the anticlimactic finish. Again, awkwardly placed at the beginning. I Believe It 1/5: It's ok, and I liked how it picked up, but it's very forgettable, had nothing to offer relative to the other tracks, suffers from the same anticlimactic finish, and has a bad track placement. Revolution 4/5: We go full shoegaze on this one. It's noisy and exciting. Almost sounds like the chaotic garage rock of the Stooges. Great song progression, and it finishes pretty well for a change. Let Me Down Gently 1/5: Another completely forgettable track that drags on. At least it sounds complete. So Hot 3/5: A pleasant folk pop tune. I like the bright ethereal New Age atmosphere. Suicide 4/5: An ode to the early industrial band of the same name. Similar to "Revolution" in mood. It's drones and beats are clustered and krautrock-esque, which gives off an alarming and unsettling sound. There's a heavily distorted lead guitar that's pretty fun to follow. Epic ending. I just wish there a bit more. Lord Can You Hear Me 4/5: A pleasant and appropriate pop closer. It's consistent with the rest of the record but triumphant and spiritual. Average: 2.7. Bonus points for consistency, innovation, production, and focus on 9 tracks with appropriate record length. It loses points for the weak intro tracks and odd track ordering. Only the last 2 felt appropriately placed. Since this record would pair well with psychs, dissos, and weed, I'm bumping it up to 3 stars.

A puzzling album, ambitious in its sonic soundscapes but half formed in some of its ideas - many songs start and fade out without ever building. Somewhat ahead of its time, the psychedelic rock predicts later artists such as Mogwai, Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine, an intriguing listen but not a satisfying album.

I listened to it. Kinda cool. Kinda forgettable

Ambient background psych rock. A tedious album.

I knew Revolution already so wasn't expecting such a spaced out quiet bore-fest! I did like So Hot, but it's a very short pretty song. Not a revolutionary listen, but not 1 star either.

Listening to this I picture the end of a jam session: All musicians are wasted and can't play difficult shit anymore, the audience has left the bar already and there is one regular guest sipping his scotch and shouting "we want more". This would be a sign to go home.

Я все релизы слушаю честно, от начала и до конца. Ничего не перематываю, хотя рука порой тянется. Борюсь с собой. Этот альбом - как будто мой последний триумф в этой борьбе. Если следующий альбом будет такой же хуетой, я удалю нахуй этот профиль!!! МЕНЯ ЗАЕБАЛИ ЭТИ 11 МИНУТНЫЕ ОПУСЫ ПУСТОГОЛОВЫЕ!!!!! ВОТ ВНАТУРЕ SUICIDE !!!!!!

Dreeaaamy nnoooooiiiiisssssssssee!

This is a great album and one that's been in my collection for a while. I love the trippy guitar-based sound of Spacemen 3, with all its motorik influences. Notably here is the track "Suicide"...the whole album is a classic 'less is more' piece of work.

Great

I used to think this the weakest of Spacemen 3s 3 latter albums but completely changes my mind - although Perfect Prescription may be conceptually more interesting I think the mix here of melodic, almost tender songs and a couple of longer heavier ones gives this the edge. Always had a preference for Sonic Booms songs over Jasons and I think that still holds true for me.

I had not listened to this album in a while. About as easy a 5 star album as it gets.

oooOOOooooOoooOOOOOooooOOOooOOOOooo

Amazing album.

Super soothing and relaxing instrumentals. Easy to work/think to, even sleep to. Calming for me.

Dames en heren, ik zweef door de ruimte met dit album. Dit is er een waar je stiekem op hoopt dat die ertussen staat, maar het niet durft te dromen. En toch! Ze kunnen misschien toch wel wat goed doen… ik heb na corona Spiritualized in de Paradiso gezien, en als je deze muziek ziet zitten is het een absolute aanrader. Jason is de grootste antiperformer, hij zit op een stoeltje met een zonnebril op, maar zet toch een show neer… betoverend. Groot fan!

Pretty cool ambient sounds. A lot of drone rocking. Great album.

That's the funny thing about music. I listened to this band about 8 years ago and thought it was just ok. Listening with today's ears and frame of mind, this is pretty fantastic stuff. Playing guitar through fuzz, delay and reverb pedals to get this shoegazey sound is loads of fun. I've listened through 3 times, now I'm on to their album prior to this one. Really dig the early Pink Floyd influence.

Spacemen 3 son una banda que hay que escuchar. Spiritualized está muy bien, pero esto es otro nivel al que Jason no supo, no pudo o no quiso llegar (y llegó muy lejos). Spectrum y EAR o todo lo en lo que estuvo Sonic Boom tampoco. Ya sea con Sound of Confusion (1986), con su más reconocido The Perfect Prescription (1987) o con este Playing with fire que para mí es el mejor de todos, cualquier disco de los Spacemen 3 es de escucha obligatoria para cualquier amante de la música. Mejor que hablar de las curiosidades de Jason Pierce y Sonic Boom (que si nacieron el mismo día, que si las influencias de la Velvet, Suicide, Silver Apples o los Stooges...), es más valioso poner el disco, cualquiera, y disfrutarlo. Honey es un clásico que marca el tono sin descubrir las cartas. How does it feel introduce un repetitivo dron que te va llevando a otra dimensión. I believe it te atrapa y Revolution te destroza el cerebro. Después retorno en espiral con las bucólicas Let me down gently y So Hot hasta que Suicide te vuelve a freir las neuronas. Lord can you hear me limpia cualquier resto que haya quedado y vuelta a darle al play. Un disco excepcional, atemporal e ineludible. Otros grandes discos del 89, el año del Milli Vanilli-gate: Stone Roses de Stone Roses, New York de Lou Reed, Doolitle de Pixies, On Fire de Galaxie 500, Disintegration de The Cure, Paul´s Boutique de los beastie boys, Technique de New Order, Freedom de Neil Young, Let Love Rule de Lenny Kravitz, The Seeds of Love de Tears for Fears, Automatic de Jesus and Mary Chain, Love and Rockets de Love and Rockets, Dum-Dum de las Vaselines, Spike de Elvis Costello, Rhythm Nation de Janet Jackson, Mind Bomb de The The, Club Classic VI de Soul to Soul, Mothers Milk de los Red Hot Chili Peppers, Full Moon Fever de Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Ojalá Que Llueva Café de Juan Luis Guerra, Shahen-Shah Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, The Raw and the Cooked de los Fine Young Cannibals, Primal Scream de Primal Scream, The Whitey Album de Ciccone Youth, Lōc-ed After Dark de Tone Lōc, 3 Feet High and Rising de De La Soul, 101 de Depeche Mode, Like a Prayer de Madonna, Nick of Time de Bonnie Raitt, No More Mr. Nice Guy de Gang Starr, Raw Like Sushi de Neneh Cherry, The Real Thing de Faith No More, Liquidizer de Jesus Jones, Heart Shaped World de Chris Isaak, Bleach de Nirvana, Velveteen de Transvision Vamp, Pump de Aerosmith, The Healer de John Lee Hooker, Crossroads de Tracy Chapman, Hats de The Blue Nile, All Hail the Queen de Queen Latifah, Done by the Forces of Nature de los Jungle Brothers, Back on the Block de Quincy jones, Me and a Monkey on the Moon de Felt, Ninety de 808 State, Hallelujah EP de los Happy Mondays o Pump Up the Jam de Technotronic. Y como placeres culpables: Cuts Both Ways de Gloria Stefan, Foreign Affair de Tina Turner, ...But Seriously de Phil Collins y Neither Fish Nor Flesh de Terence Trent D'Arby

This sounds remarkably like something that would have influenced Spiritualized, for Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space. And that's a Really Good thing. That this was released more than half a decade earlier than LAGWAFIS is quite frankly astonishing. And I really like it. And... Exactly like I did with The Sugarcubes, I've made a huge mistake.... Turns out that Spirtualized were formed from members of Spacemen 3. What a(nother) journey of discovery this is! Yes - this album is The Tits. I like it. A lot.

From Spacemen 3’s Wikipedia page: “Their music is known for its brand of trance-like ‘neo-psychedelia’ consisting of heavily distorted guitar, synthesizers, and minimal chord or tempo changes.” Pretty accurate description of this album. If you’re in the right mood or on the right cocktail of mind-altering drugs, Playing with Fire definitely scratches a particular itch. It’s not on the proper track listing, but the live version of Suicide is even better than the album cut.

Un album que j'aurais cru pratiquement contemporain, alors qu'il est fin des années 1980. Il m'a bluffée. Je me suis laissée transporter par les ambiances, même les plus répétitives ou discordantes. Une belle réussite pour moi.

Surprisingly good. Feels like a precursor to MGMT and maybe even some BMRC

cool

Best music for acid trip.

Spacemen 3 assemble the pieces that would form the blueprint of what would become Spiritualized with Playing With Fire, an album that mostly does good on the themes displayed on the album cover and reinvokes the spirit of the psychedelic age to fit their modern times. An accurate purity of love bound by revolution and suicide. Favorites: Honey, Come Down Softly to Me, How Does It Feel, Let Me Down Gently, So Hot (Wash Away All of My Tears), Suicide, Lord Can You Hear Me.

Can't quite put my finger on why I liked this so much. Some of the songs should be too repetitive, some of the vocals are quite weak but it is more than the sum of it's parts

Played this album whilst soaking my aching legs in the bath following a hard 3-set Padel match defeat where we’d thrown away match point at 5-2 in the 3rd set. It was perfect timing. Just lie back, chill and absorb as the endorphins wash over me. I probably wouldn’t have given this the focused time it needs otherwise. Spacemen 3 passed me by in my formative years, so this release offered up a whirlwind of interesting experimental soundscapes, with Revolution and Suicide being with standout tracks for me. In places, the latter sounded as though I was patiently loading a 1980s home computer game via cassette tape during its monumental 11 minutes of screeching yet somehow non-cacophonic feedback and squelching. Very happy to have discovered this album, especially as I used to really like some spiritualised back in the day. Will revisit some time for sure, maybe next time I take a bath .

Rock psyché

4/5. I have been of fan of Spiritualized so I kind of got the energy I was going to get from this album. A lot less song structure and more just repeated riffs and phrases. I am not usually a fan of shoegaze, but this hit the right balance for me. It felt "spacey" and yet like you are falling down to Earth, sometimes just grabbing onto the orbit and other times getting ready to hit the Earth. Like with other shoegaze, it does fall into the category of not being able to put this on anytime. It's not perfect but I do enjoy it. Best Song: Revolution, Honey, How Does It Feel?

Cool album - it’s like the sonic equivalent of watching 2001 a space odyssey. Not for everyone, but interesting to hear how multiple genres can combine to create such a unique sound.

Far out stuff man

Just what I needed to hear to keep me grounded while my brother goes on having a manic bipolar episode. The early version of All of My Tears reminds me how much I love early Spiritualized. Going to see them play Pure Phase in full soon and can't wait for that bit. The centrepiece drone of Suicide is peerless, and Lord Can You Hear Me is beautiful. I love it. I do love Spiritualized more. A very high 4

4- Stars (10/15)

This one surprised me. Initially I didn't think much of it, but the more I listened it drew me in. Going with a four but I may have to move it higher after further listening.

Amazing album and the long instrumentals were awesome mde me feel like I was actually floating in space

SPACEMEN 3 are more than the band that J SPACEMAN was in before he started Spiritualized and yet for many listeners hearing this record is hearing backwards in time from Spiritualized to this. Maybe at this point in history that's the majority of listeners. There are a few fellow travelers left who heard Spacemen 3 back in the day when this coolly aloof, psychedelic-tinged blues drift would build waveform upon waveform into a delayed crescendo that would wash over an already blown mind. Being stateside I wasn't one of them, I had a friend who dug this music with a passion so I caught what bit of the lightning the tape machine could capture. But even me being SPACEMEN 3 adjacent can't come back to this record and not feel an overwhelming echo of the future slap back upon this listening experience like so much spring reverb. None of this is a complaint. It's not a bad thing. It's the way that it is whenever there's a strong sonic imprint and the two experiences are drawn together in overlap. In both bands, it's not the chords or tempos chosen but the way they are shaped and expressed that has a certain SPACEMAN signature that's inescapable. It's repetition and difference / difference and repetition. Playing with Fire is just a hallucinatory reminder of a phenomenon in a way that only time and experience can provide. If we could truly travel back in history and steal it from the gods to give it to man again for the first time. Only then. Only then. For now, we just have slabs of wax melted into an array, digitized for the stream in a way that collapses our listening into the black hole of the self.

I really liked this. The combination of minimalist synth and bluesier stuff was a lot of fun. And it feels different that pretty much anything I've heard. Kraftwerk+Arcade Fire or something? Anyway, I doubt this is everyone's cup of tea, but this was great for me. I've never heard of this band and their significance is completely lost on me, but I'm glad to have been introduced.

Skills

Very droney and spacey, I’ve never heard this before. Love it.

ACCURACY REVOLUTION PURITY LOVE ... SUICIDE??! sounds like a space cult and it somehow slaps hard

Spacey, jam, dynamic

A pretty good album, I liked Come Down Softly To My Soul, Suicide, Lord Can You Here Me and Any Way That You Want Me the most.

This is a really good album with a variety f moods and dynamic swings. I think I still prefer Recurring but no slouch here. Honey, I Believe It, Revolution and So Hot are stellar and it ends on a beautiful quiet spiritual note with Lord Can You Hear Me. 4 stars

I've never listened to Spacemen 3 but I've always enjoyed Spiritualized. This felt more ambient and drone-y which I loved!

Always liked Spacemen 3 more than Spiritualized (their joydivision/neworder esque sequel band) and I had never heard this album but really enjoyed it - i think the psychedelic and post rock influences work really well with the drone-y and dream pop vibes on this record .. anyways i really liked it!

## In-Depth Review of *Playing With Fire* by Spacemen 3 *Playing With Fire*, released in 1989, marks a significant evolution in the sound and thematic exploration of Spacemen 3, a band known for its unique blend of psychedelia and alternative rock. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also addressing its pros and cons. ### ****Lyrics The lyrics of *Playing With Fire* reflect a deep introspection and an exploration of existential themes, often intertwined with drug references and emotional vulnerability. - **Existential Themes**: Songs like “Lord Can You Hear Me?” grapple with questions of faith and personal despair. The repeated plea for divine presence resonates with listeners seeking solace in their struggles. - **Emotional Vulnerability**: Tracks such as “So Hot (Wash Away All Of My Tears)” reveal a yearning for redemption and inner peace, showcasing the band's ability to convey profound emotions through simple yet poignant lyrics. - **Minimalism**: The lyrical content is often minimalistic, mirroring the musical style. This approach allows the listener to focus on the emotional weight of each line rather than getting lost in complex narratives. Overall, the lyrics serve as a vehicle for exploring themes of love, loss, and transcendence, creating a deeply immersive experience. ### ****Music Musically, *Playing With Fire* is characterized by its minimalist approach and rich textures that create an expansive soundscape. - **Drones and Repetition**: The album features extensive use of drones and repetitive structures, particularly evident in tracks like “Suicide,” which employs an 11-minute two-chord drone that captivates listeners through its hypnotic qualities. - **Guitar Effects**: The guitar work is notable for its innovative use of effects. In “Honey,” guitars are processed to mimic synthesizers, showcasing the band's experimental spirit. This technique creates a lush auditory experience that complements the lyrical themes. - **Diverse Influences**: Drawing from a wide range of influences—from John Cage to Kraftwerk—the band successfully merges various genres, resulting in a sound that feels both contemporary and timeless. The incorporation of elements from ambient music enhances the album's ethereal quality. ### ****Production The production of *Playing With Fire* plays a crucial role in shaping its overall sound. - **Minimalist Production**: The album's production is intentionally sparse, allowing each instrument to breathe. This minimalism enhances the emotional impact of the music while creating an immersive listening experience. - **Layering Techniques**: Producer Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) employs layering techniques that add depth without overwhelming the listener. The careful balance between clarity and density allows for a rich sound that invites repeated listens. - **Atmospheric Quality**: The production captures an atmospheric quality that aligns perfectly with the lyrical content. Tracks like “How Do You Feel?” exemplify this with their haunting melodies and spacious arrangements. ### ****Themes The thematic core of *Playing With Fire* revolves around introspection, existentialism, and the search for meaning amidst chaos. - **Psychedelic Exploration**: The album embodies a psychedelic journey that encourages listeners to explore their inner landscapes. The combination of drug references and spiritual inquiries creates a complex narrative about escapism and enlightenment. - **Urban Alienation**: Reflecting the band's experiences in Thatcher-era Britain, themes of urban alienation permeate the album. This context adds a layer of social commentary to the personal struggles depicted in the lyrics. - **Duality of Experience**: The juxtaposition between beauty and despair is prevalent throughout the album. Songs oscillate between moments of serene beauty and haunting melancholy, mirroring the complexities of human emotion. ### ****Influence *Playing With Fire* has left an indelible mark on both contemporary music and the broader psychedelic genre. - **Legacy in Psychedelia**: The album is often cited as a pivotal moment in modern psychedelia, influencing bands such as Spiritualized (founded by Jason Pierce) and other alternative rock acts that followed. - **Cult Following**: Over time, *Playing With Fire* has garnered a cult following, celebrated for its innovative sound and profound lyrical content. Its impact can be seen in various genres that embrace minimalism and experimental approaches to songwriting. - **Continued Relevance**: The themes explored in *Playing With Fire* remain relevant today, resonating with new generations who grapple with similar existential questions and emotional struggles. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The blend of minimalist structures with rich textures creates a unique auditory experience that stands out in the alternative rock landscape. - **Emotional Depth**: The introspective lyrics coupled with haunting melodies provide listeners with a profound emotional connection to the music. - **Cohesive Themes**: The thematic unity throughout the album enhances its overall impact, making it a compelling listen from start to finish. #### Cons - **Repetitive Nature**: Some listeners may find the repetitive structures overly simplistic or monotonous, potentially detracting from their enjoyment. - **Accessibility Issues**: The minimalist approach may not appeal to all audiences; those accustomed to more conventional song structures might struggle to engage fully with the material. - **Fragmented Collaboration**: Given the tensions within the band during its creation, some may perceive inconsistencies in collaboration affecting certain tracks' cohesiveness. ### Conclusion In summary, *Playing With Fire* by Spacemen 3 represents a high point in the band's career, showcasing their ability to fuse innovative musical techniques with profound lyrical exploration. Its legacy continues to influence contemporary music while inviting listeners into an introspective journey marked by beauty and despair. Despite some potential drawbacks related to its repetitive nature and accessibility issues, its strengths far outweigh these concerns, solidifying its status as a seminal work in modern psychedelia.

Atmospheric cool electronica. Great listen. Nothing world shattering, but funn.