Reviewed on 15th October 2008.

Spiritualized

Live at O2 Academy Leeds on Friday, 10th October 2008

Ah, happy days are here again. The T&C has returned to its former glory as risen from the flames as Leeds Academy, with the result (perhaps, I know not if this is true) of tonight's gig thankfully being moved from the shed up the road (the almost always sounding shite Refectory of Leeds University) to this very place. As I arrive, the lights drop to a flooded blue and a maelstromic opening of "Amazing Grace" is emitted from the speakers, and it sounds sweet. And fierce. An early playing of "Shine A Light" is mesmeric, soulful and reminds me of several missed Spacemen 3 gigs that my mates constantly remind me about, and "Soul On Fire" is the first opportunity for the hairs to stand up and the tear ducts to fill up. "Sitting On Fire" has all the couples loved up and rightly groping each other, this is fine indeed and is soon followed by "Sound Of Confusion", sounding as fresh today as always.

Sadly, at this point, I have to make a public service announcement. Talking at gigs. Or more correctly, talking all the way though the set, at gigs. Becoming more and more prominent. A message to these people - shut your fucking mouths. We came here to listen to some soulful music that demands attention and most importantly silence. Your drivelspeak is not welcome. Comments are fine, conversations are not. End of public service announcement.

At this stage we have a very intricate and long build up to "I Think I'm In Love", and it's certainly worth the wait my friends. "Lay Back In The Sun" builds up the intensity, and continues over "Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space". Wow. The ending of this threatens to turn into "Cop Shoot Cop", but we get "She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)", the tricksters, followed by "Come Together". No chaff tonight. By the time we arrive at "Take Me To The Other Side", which is probably the loudest section of the evening with probably 18dB of hearing sensitivity lost (1 per pound spent), the strobes are on overdrive and there are no mrpoopoos allowed in here. It's a brutal use of sensory overload, not quite "You Made Me Realise", but not far off.

The finale of "Lord, Can You Hear Me?" is just beautiful. A lot of times in reviews, words can't do justice as to how a song and its delivery can affect someone. This is one of those times. 2 hours have flown by and the physical and emotional spin cycle is over. Astonishing. All that is left is to be treated disrespectfully by the security bitch in charge - some things never change.