Appropriately preceded by the mind-melting crunch of the 'Revolution' single, 'Playing With Fire' proved to be the end of Spacemen 3 as a functioning band, but in truly spectacular fashion. Exploring both the depths of serene, agog beauty and sheer tape-shredding chaos, 'Playing With Fire' pushed the extremes of 'The Perfect Prescription' to an even further edge. It's little surprise that Pierce and Sonic couldn't find themselves properly working together after it, but even less that hordes of bands to follow would rank 'Playing With Fire' as the equal (or better) of psychedelia's '60s and '70s forebears. Sonic himself is quoted in one reissue's liner notes as feeling the album 'was the refining point of a lot of my theories on minimalism being maximalism' — as apt a description as any.

1. Spacemen 3 Hey Man

Aug 19, 1988  Recorded over four nights in Germany during what turned out to be Spacemen 3's final tour, Live in Europe 1989 is far better than the more ragged earlier Spacemen 3 live album, 1988's Performance. The album's also notable for documenting the group's short-lived quartet lineup, with bassist Willie Carruthers and drummer Jon.

One of his songs, 'How Does It Feel?,' sums it up by using a series of notes echoing off into the distance, again and again. With future Spiritualized bassist Will Carruthers in place of Baines, the trio (and uncredited drummer) created glazed, liquid songs with subtle arrangements and sheer reveling in aural joys. Flange is everywhere, as is echo, full dynamic stereo mixes and more, a feast of sound. When aiming toward a gentler, hushed sound, most notably on Pierce's compositions, the incorporation of gospel power filtered through the band's own perspective results in wonders, as heard on 'Come Down Softly to My Soul' and the album closing 'Lord Can You Hear Me?' As for the louder end of things, besides the awesome 'Revolution' itself, a slow burn blast that just keeps getting more and more obsessive and frenetic as it goes, Sonic calling for a release of energy in a mere five seconds, the other complete freak-out is 'Suicide.' An instrumental tribute to the New York synth pioneers, Spacemen 3 keep the minimalism and up the feedback with astonishing results. Initial re-pressings of the album in the mid-'90s included tracks from the 'Revolution' and 'Threebie' singles.

Spacemen 3 Hey Man

An elaborate reissue in 1999 included a full, extra disc of demos and rarities, including covers of the Perfect Disaster's 'Girl on Fire' and The Troggs' 'Anyway That You Want Me' — eventually Spiritualized's first single. Source: AMG my 2 cents; being a long time devoted fan of both spacemen, spiritualized and some sonic boom, i would vote that for the 1st time listener, 'Playing With Fire' (original release or bonus tracks) is a great primer for the band.

Next i would go to 'The Perfect Perscription' Track Listing: CD1-01. Honey (3:03) CD1-02.

1. Recurring is really a Spacemen 3. (as I think he did with most Spacemen albums.
2. Obviamente, tener una miserable copia de un disco en mp3 no se compara a tener el disco original, y mucho menos, a asistir a un concierto en vivo.

Come Down Softly To My Soul (3:46) CD1-03. How Does It Feel?

(7:58) CD1-04. I Believe It (3:19) CD1-05. Revolution (5:57) CD1-06. Let Me Down Gently (4:29) CD1-07. So Hot (Wash Away All Of My Tears) (2:38) CD1-08. Suicide (11:03) CD1-09.

Lord Can You Hear Me? (4:34) CD1-10. Suicide (Live) (12:24) CD1-11. Repeater (How Does It Feel?) (Live) (5:31) CD1-12. Che (4:31) CD1-13. May The Circle Be Unbroken (3:45) CD2-01. Honey (Demo) (3:24) CD2-02.

Let Me Down Gently (Drum Mix) (4:50) CD2-03. How Does It Feel? (Alternate Version) (8:24) CD2-04. Suicide (Alternate Mix) (11:51) CD2-05. Lord Can You Hear Me? (Demo Vocal) (4:40) CD2-06.

I Believe It (Alternate Mix) (3:20) CD2-07. Che (Maracas Mix) (4:37) CD2-08. Any Way That You Want Me (Demo) (3:21) CD2-09. Girl On Fire (Demo) (2:06).