I Think I’m In Love

JASON PIERCE is weighing up the news that the third Spiritualized album, 1997’s Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, has placed fourth in the list of the greatest albums released in the 25-year life span of Uncut. “It’s nice, and I do like the album,” says Pierce of a record that many regard as his masterpiece. “It was lots of ups and downs, and some things came easier than others. Some of the goal is to make it believable at the end, but the whole thing is a construct. Smoke and mirrors. That’s the joy of recording.”

“I Think I’m In Love”, the album’s eight minute opus, is featured on this month’s covermount CD. Although an edited version of the track was later released as the second single from the album, the full-blown album cut offers unfettered access to Spiritualized at their most ecstatic, electric and eclectic.

Partly inspired by epic multi-part song suites by The Beach Boys and The Velvet Underground, “I Think I’m In Love” is a game of two halves. The opening section is a blissedout space ballad buffeted by dub, soul and American blues stylings, the brooding bassline and synth drones vying with harmonica, melodica and slide guitar streaks. Pierce’s dazed vocals deepen the disassociated feel before the song clicks into focus. The drums find a groove, horns flare and vocals snap, as the singer, he sings. . The second guessing in the words was, at least partly, authentic self-expression. “There was quite a lot of turmoil [] at the time, but the lyrics aren’t specifically about Jason and his emotional state,” says Coxon. “They’re about the human condition. We all have those insecurities.”