Last week saw the appearance of the first single, Hey Jane, from Spiritualized's upcoming seventh studio album; Sweet Heart Sweet Light (full release due April 16th). The first offering since 2008's Songs in A&E, Hey Jane once more brings the band's 'bluesrock-in-orbit' sound back into the light.
There's a story behind the long delay, as explained by a recent post on label Double Six Records' website:
For an artist as consistent as J Spaceman (aka Jason Pierce) it’s easy to assume that there’s a certain effortlessness to the creative process. In fact, the three years since the release of Songs In A&E were some of the roughest imaginable for him. After a near death from double pneumonia in 2005 it was a slow road to recovery, a process he touched upon on with great grace on the last album. His return to full health saw him release this album and then mount critically lauded performances of his 1997 game-changer Ladies And Gentlemen….We Are Floating In Space on both sides of the Atlantic and Australia.
However, shortly after recording Sweet Heart Sweet Light – in far flung locales such as Los Angeles, Reykjavik and Wales – J Spaceman was subjected to a procedure that left him virtually housebound while he mixed the album. In a classic case of triumph over tribulation, the resulting album is Spiritualized at their most vibrant; full voiced and utterly sublime.
Spiritualized have already previewed the record live, playing it in its entirety during an uplifting show at the Royal Albert Hall on October 11, 2011. Originally planned for a March release this singular perfectionist felt compelled to make further edits to what was thought to be the finished album.