Formed in 1982, Rugby, Warwickshire’s Spacemen 3 consisted of Peter Kember, Jason Pierce, and a rotating line-up of members. The band’s experimental, neo-psychedelic style is on full display on Playing With Fire, originally released in 1988, with colorful guitar explorations, over-amplified synths, clashing harmonic overtones, and wistful melodies creating drony, drugged-out soundscapes. Spacemen 3 would break up a few years later, and the two principals would go on to find success w/ other projects (Sonic Boom/Spectrum and Spiritualized), but the group maintains a cult following, and songs like “Honey,” “How does It Feel?,” “Revolution,” “Lord Can You Hear Me?” and “Suicide” are telling of why.

• comes with download card
• notes by Marc Masters
• music label: Superior Viaduct 1988 / 2018

reviewed by rei kwondo 05/18