Space rock
Space rock | |
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Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | Late 1960s and early 1970s, United Kingdom |
Derivative forms | |
Other topics | |
Space rock is a music genre characterized by loose and lengthy song structures centered on instrumental textures that typically produce a hypnotic, otherworldly sound.[1] It may feature distorted and reverberation-laden guitars, minimal drumming, languid vocals, synthesizers, and lyrical themes of outer space and science fiction.
The genre emerged in late 1960s
History
Origins: 1950s-1960s
Humanity's entry into
Peak: 1970s-1980s
In the early 1970s, West Germany's
In early 1971, Pink Floyd began writing the song that would become known as "Echoes", from the 1971 album Meddle. The song was performed from April until September 1971, with an alternative set of lyrics, written about two planets meeting in space.
A major album in the history of space rock was Hawkwind's Space Ritual (1973),[13] a two-disc live album advertised as "88 minutes of brain-damage" documenting Hawkwind's 1972 tour that included a liquid light show and lasers, nude dancers (notably the earth-mother figure Stacia), wild costumes and psychedelic imagery. This hard-edged concert experience attracted a motley but dedicated collection of psychedelic drug users, science-fiction fans and motorcycle riders. The science fiction author Michael Moorcock collaborated with Hawkwind on many occasions and wrote the lyrics for many of the spoken-word sections on Space Ritual. In Europe, Hungarian band Omega was the biggest space rock band with albums Time Robber (1976), Skyrover (1978), and Gammapolis (1979). Other European bands include the progressive rock groups Eloy and Nektar. Nektar, who were known for having a rhythmic liquid/slide light show at their concerts, released their album Journey to the Centre of the Eye in 1971.
From 1980s to 1990s, Magic Mushroom Band and Ozric Tentacles released space rock albums.[14]
1990s revival
Shoegaze, dream pop and crusty genres emerged in the mainstream with the explosion of bands such as Swervedriver, Slowdive, the Verve, My Bloody Valentine, The Boo Radleys, Richard Ashcroft, Flying Saucer Attack, Klaus Schulze, Ride, the Flaming Lips, Orange Goblin, Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Mercury Rev,[15] crusty band Magic Mushroom Band,[16] and Ozric Tentacles.[17] The sonic experimentation by these bands had something in common with "space rock".
In the mid-1990s, a number of bands built on the space rock styles of Hawkwind and Gong appeared in America. Some of these bands were signed to Cleopatra Records, which then proceeded to release numerous space rock compilations. Starting in 1997, Daevid Allen of Gong, along with members of Hawkwind, Clearlight, and Blue Oyster Cult, started to perform with Spirits Burning, a studio project created to celebrate space rock.[18]
The Strange Daze festivals from 1997 to 2001 showcased the American space rock scene in three-day outdoor festivals. A Michigan-based space rock scene included Burnt Hair Records, Darla Records, and bands such as Windy & Carl, Mahogany, Sweet Trip, Füxa and Auburn Lull. This was a modern movement of the traditional "space rock" sound and was pinned Detroit Space Rock.
French band
21st century
In 2005, Tom DeLonge formed the rock supergroup Angels & Airwaves, who are known for having space rock influences in both its music and lyrics, in addition to having space-themed imagery and artwork.
In 2006 the British rock band
In 2009 an off-duty
The progressive rock band Starset is heavily influenced by space and astronomy, and many of their songs reference themes commonly associated with space.
In 2018, British rock band Arctic Monkeys released their sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, based on frontman Alex Turner's concept of a luxury resort on the moon for rockstars. The album centres around topics of interstellar travel, consumerism, science fiction and technology, and features several characters such as an unnamed retired rockstar who serves as the narrator for several tracks, 'Mark', the titular hotel's receptionist, and the fictional 'Martini Police' mentioned in the track 'Star Treatment'.
In 2021,
See also
- Space-themed music
- Space music
- Space disco
- Space age pop
- Space Truckin'
References
- ^ a b c d "Space rock". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ Nickson, Chris. "Shapeshifter – Gong | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ "Joe Meek: The RGM Legacy". Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger
- ISBN 0-02-036361-3
- ^ Bruce Eder, Astronomy Domine song review, AllMusic
- ISBN 0-385-30684-9, p.66.
- ^ Richie Unterberger, Interstellar Overdrive song review, AllMusic
- ^ a b Adelt 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-906002-08-4. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ a b Horn, David; Shepherd, John, eds. (2017). Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 11. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 177.
- . Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ Wilson Neate, Space Ritual review, AllMusic
- ^ "Ozric Tentacles – Freakbeat 1990". Ozrics.elementfx.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Shoegaze Allmusic.com Retrieved 29 November 2023
- ^ Magic Mushroom Band Allmusic.com Retrieved 29 March 2022
- ^ "Space rock". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ [https://spiritsburning.bandcamp.com/album/the-roadmap-in-your-head Spirits Burning] bandcamp.com Retrieved 29 November 2023
- ^ Crossan, Jamie (2013-05-27). "Muse's Matt Bellamy: 'My dad's bankruptcy drove me to be successful'". NME. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Archive of Sympathy for Vengeance + Space Shuttle Discovery mashup". Smg.photobucket.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Robinson, Ellie (2021-07-23). "Coldplay shoot for the stars with their cinematic new track 'Coloratura'". NME. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
- ^ updated, Louder last (2021-07-23). "Coldplay discover Pink Floyd, share 10 minute prog rock single Coloratura". louder. Retrieved 2023-08-23.