Lazer Guided Melodies
Lazer Guided Melodies is the debut studio album by English space rock band Spiritualized. The album was recorded by the inaugural line up of the band, consisting of Jason Pierce, Mark Refoy, Will Carruthers, Jonny Mattock and Kate Radley from 1990 to 1991, and mixed by Pierce in London in January 1992. The album was first released on Dedicated Records in March 1992, on cassette, Compact Disc and Vinyl.
Initially released on two 45rpm vinyl LPs, the album's twelve songs are segued together into four colour-coded, cross-faded suites. As such, the album was included in Pitchforks 2010 list of "ten unusual CD-era gimmicks".
By 1995, the album had sold 10,000 copies in the United States.
Background
Lazer Guided Melodies is unique in Jason Pierce's oeuvre as it simultaneously explores motorik, minimalist music, and space rock while subtly using "meticulously detailed, layered instrumentation, the sumptuous deployment of horns and strings" to create cinematic, textured, and deeply narcotic soundscapes. Pierce reported that the album cost £3800 to produce.Critic Simon Reynolds wrote in his Melody Maker review of the album:
Music
The album is described musically as dream pop, space rock, and shoegaze.Critical reception and legacy
Lazer Guided Melodies was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2016, Vinyl Me, Please listed the album as one of the "10 Best Shoegaze Albums to Own on Vinyl". In 2017, NME ranked the album at number 2 on its list of the "10 Best Shoegaze Albums Ever". In 2018, Pitchfork ranked the album at number 11 on its list of "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums." The Quietus said that the album's "cosmic prettiness" anticipated dream pop. While reviewing its 2021 reissue, Pitchfork described it as "one of the most gentle rock records of its time" and stated that "Spiritualized seemed to emerge from the ether perfectly realized, creating rock music that was serene, spaced-out, and untroubled." Music critic Jim DeRogatis called Lazer Guided Melodies “one of the most enchanting psychedelic rock albums ever made.”Track listing
On the LP edition, tracks 1–3 are the "Red" section, tracks 4–7 are the "Green" section, tracks 8–9 are the "Blue" section, and tracks 10–12 are the "Black" section. Track 4, "Run", contains elements of "Call Me the Breeze" by J. J. Cale and "Run Run Run" by The Velvet Underground.Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.Spiritualized
- Jason Pierce – guitar, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, vocals
- Kate Radley – keyboards, vocals
- Mark Refoy – guitar, acoustic guitar, dulcimer
- Will Carruthers – bass
- Jonny Mattock – drums, percussion, dulcimer
- Simon Clarke – flute
- Roddy Lorimer – trumpet
- Will Gregory – saxophone
- Colin Humphries – cello
- Martin Robinson – cello
- Owen John – violin
- Jason Pierce – production, mixing
- Barry Clempson – mixing, engineering, production
- Angus Wallace – engineering
- Declan O'Regan – engineering
- Mike Long – engineering
- Paul Adkins – engineering
- Chris Blair – mastering
- Gavin Lindsay – artwork
- Pete Gardner – photographer
- Andrew Sutton – sleeve design
- Albert Tupelo – sleeve design
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| Swedish Physical Albums | 18 |