Spirit\Light\Speed

$Spirit\Light\Speed$

Artist: Ian Astbury
Label: Beggars Banquet Us
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 607618020828
EAN: 0607618020828
ASIN: B00000K29Y

Release Date: 2000-06-20

Spirit\Light\Speed

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General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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| Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Back On Earth
High Time Amplifier
Devil's Mouth
Tonight (Illuminated)
Metaphysical Pistol
The Witch (Slt Return)
It's Over
El Che/Wild Like A Horse
Tyger
Shambala (R.F.L)

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Amazon.com

Recorded during the hiatus between the Cult's 1995 breakup and the band's re-formation in 1999, Spirit\Light\Speed is based on some sound thinking. The Cult's two previous albums, Ceremony and Cult, showed signs of serious disintegration in the Ian Astbury/Billy Duffy partnership. Astbury, declaring the death of rock, came up with a peculiar and somewhat prophetic marriage of rock and electronica that sat in the can for a couple of years before its eventual release. Cult fans and Goths (there's considerable overlap) will, at the very least, be interested in hearing what Astbury sounds like without his partner in crime. The answer: not much different, but he does stretch a bit musically. What with the use of "She Sells Sanctuary" in a car commercial, two best-of collections, and the inclusion of a song on the Gone in 60 Seconds soundtrack, the Cult seem poised for a new rise to prominence, and perhaps Astbury solo will earn a little extra acclaim, too. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

A good idea on paper........2006-04-29

Ian Astbury's (so far) only solo effort, 2000's "Spirit\Light Sound", was the singer's attempt at living up to his declaration that "Rock is dead". An album of electronica, it pits Astbury's vocals on top of a pile of samples, noises, beats, and guitars in nine originals and one old Cult song (1992's "The Witch").

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm normally the kind of person who's inclined to enjoy this sort of stuff-- my taste in music drifts in and out of electronica, but this album is pretty much a trainwreck from start to finish.

To begin with, it's clear that Astbury and produer Chris Goss were not the best pair-- neither seemed to really have a good grasp for assembling an electronica piece, and samples come floating in and out seemingly at random (check the irritating processed noise on "Tyger" for a good example of this). This is added to songwriting that essentially avoids having any hooks in it, so what you're left with is essentially simple techno beats with very basic lines over it that at their best sound like a poor man's "Pretty Hate Machine" ("Back on Earth") and at their worst are totally disengaging ("Metaphysical Pistol") or downright irritating (single "High Time Amplifier"). Add to this Astbury's general sound of directionlessness as a vocalist as he's so far out of his element that all of his usual stylings and trademarks fall way short. To be fair, the vocal on "Devil's Mouth" is actually superb, it's just that the song itself is awful.

The exception to this is the Cult song, "The Witch", but quite frankly, as powerful as the piece is, the reading here falls far short of the Cult original.

In the end, Astbury's partnership with Billy Duffy and the tension the two generated is the real strength of the Cult-- I'd love to see the pair attempt an album in the electronica vein, but this one is pretty much dead on arrival.

Shaman.............2004-09-21

Ian is a great artist. This isn't the Cult, but it's not supposed to be. Alot of textures in this recording. Cool lyrics. All of the songs are solid.

Ian's a great singer and weak writer.......2004-08-13

I LOVE Ian's voice. He can sell any song...except apparently ones he's written without Billy Duffy. I don't find this cd to be worth more than one or two pained listenings. Other than his great voice it has nothing to recommend it and it's NOWHERE near the level of his work with the Cult. Even as a 'stretch' or experiment it achieves very little. It's a musical equivalent of a vanity press release, an ego ejaculation.

Zen master........2001-02-20

If I could give this 10 stars I would. Being a die-hard Cult fan for 16 years, I was not sure what to expect from this attempt at going solo, however I was greatly surprised. I really thought something would have been lost without Billy, but instead Ian's incredible talent for making you feel through his music still holds intact and is even stronger. It really exhibits some Zen, gives a serene feeling through his electronica influences, and songs like Wild Like a Horse pulls at the heart and soul. His beautiful voice has not changed except for the added wisdom of the years. I can can listen to this over and over again. A must for Ian Astbury fans.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Love Coloured Soul ~ Ken Navarro

Sings ~ Dottie Dodgion

Juni ~ Peter Erskine

Waltz for Deby

Duo & Trio Improvisations ~ Derek Bailey

Fantastic Theory ~ Fernand Englebert

D'z Nutz FM Stationn '05 ~ Ds455

The Fado of Coimbra ~ Fernando Machado Soares

Assim Que Se Faz Remixes ~ Luciana Mello

Remember Me ~ Tube