Jason Pierce is back with a new Spiritualized album on Bella Union, and our columnist is impressed to say the least. Ladies and gentlemen, we are emoting in spades…

SIMON RAYMONDE

By the time you read this, the news will be out. Th Spaceman himself, Jason Pierce, is back, with not just a new Spiritualized album – but to my humble mind, the best record Jason has made in 21 years. And I love everything this man has done. To compare it to Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space would be foolhardy at this early stage, because of course ‘classic’ status is not attained overnight – but what I can tell you is this…

I first met Jason in 2013, though it’s quite possible we had met before. Much of the 90s were a blur for me, and from things I’ve heard, they were for Jason, too (though I don’t believe much of what I hear about people in this business – I prefer to make up my own mind). When drugs are mentioned in passing, or in the press, in relation to my own band Cocteau Twins, or friends of mine in bands, there’s always some wildly (or at least mildly) exaggerated part to a particular story that no band is ever going to deny. In fact, I’ve never met a band yet that didn’t quietly relish a reputation for overindulgence. I am sure even I have said in the past that Robin from my own band made John Belushi look like a mild weekend pothead.