Well, the title should say it all. I don’t think that I’m alone in thinking that a live album is an unlikely choice from a band like Spiritualized, but here is it, or rather, here they are: two discs of the band’s performance at Royal Albert Hall from a couple years ago. If you’re unfamiliar with Spiritualized, I suggest you run out right now and buy "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space," quite possibly the best album of 1997. In a nutshell, the band plays a little bit of everything. Think Sonic Youth’s "Washing Machine" with strings and horns. This eclectic attitude can be felt on the live album as well.

Disc One kicks off with a stirring rendition of "Oh Happy Day" which evolves (or devolves, depending on your opinion) into a symphony of noise. The selections that follow include older songs like "Shine a Light" and an incredible version of "Home of the Brave." The second disc, however, is where the band truly shines. Mainly showcasing about half of the songs from Ladies and Gentlemen, this half contains possibly the album’s most amazing moment, a this-might-make-you-cry, string-laced version of "Broken Heart." The live version of "I Think I’m in Love" is also very cool, heavily incorporating the use of backup singers and horn section. Another highlight of this disc is (for me) a somewhat unexpected performance of the sixteen minute-plus closer to "Ladies and Gentlemen," "Cop Shoot Cop…." The chaos ends with a second performance of "Oh Happy Day" closing off the album, and again demonstrating the variety shown on this album.

Live albums are usually looked upon as collector’s items, but this one goes far beyond that generalization. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for something experimental. However, if this is the first Spiritualized album you buy, be warned: it may take a few listens to appreciate it completely.

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