Spiders - Space

Advantages: Some great Indie/Dance crossover tracks and a good summer listen
Disadvantages: They will only ever be remembered for two singles

Perhaps one of the forgotten Indie bands of the time Space were better known for a couple of hit singles more than anything. The Liverpool Indie kids burst onto the scene in the mid 90's with the instant hit "Female Of The Species" taken from this album, Spiders. Of course the mid 90's was a real growth period for Indie and as well as the number of new bands in the same genre, Space like many others found it hard to break the pop stranglehold on ...
...will be seen as one hit wonders Space actually have two rather decent albums to their name. With a range of influences over their music from The Who to The Happy Mondays they offered something a little different to the likes of The Charlatans and Oasis at the time. Within their music they seem to have created a blend of Rock, with smatterings of Dance and a decent helping of Indie. At the time of its release they really captured my imagination and ... Read review

Advantages: Fine - in short bursts
Disadvantages: Sound begins to grate very quickly, lack of emotion

Space are one of those bands that seem to be free of the angst and depression that usually accompanies guitar bands. However, relentless upbeat-ness doesn't usually make for good music - lack of deep-set emotion - and such is the case with this album. It just sounds slightly forced all the way; the band is probably trying to continue the slightly off-beat humourous nature of their singles, and it simply doesn't make for a good album. By the end you ... Read review

Advantages: Superb, original tunes, and plenty of them
Disadvantages: The cover will scare the wits out of arachnophobics!

...I had been meaning to buy this album ever since it was first released back in 1996, but always held back, as the high cost of new CDs has, in my opinion, always been a barrier to acquiring a really good CD collection. However, having recently discovered eBay, I managed to secure a mint copy of “Spiders” for the bargain price of just £1.04, plus £1.40 postage and packing. Beat that! ~ Band Line-Up ~ The four-piece comprises Tommy Scott (vocals and bass), Jamie Murphy (vocals and guitar), Franny Griffiths (keyboards) and Andy Parle on drums. ~ Liverpudlian Magic ~ Space are a hard band to categorise: many have placed them in the same pigeonhole as Happy Mondays and Black Grape, but Space’s music goes beyond any single genre. “Spiders” features carefully crafted songs, most of them... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: All of the songs are soooo good
Disadvantages: Nothing at all

...This should of been a number 1 album! The songs on this album are so soo good. They are just completely mad, and off the cuff which is very refreshing, rather than songs about dreary existence, songs about someones mad Neighbourhood are good to hear. They seem like a cross between Madness, and a rock band. Nearly all of the album is good songs but those that stand out most are Me and You Vs The World, Neighbourhood, Mister Pshyco and Dark Clouds. Buy this today! There is also a remix collection of the songs from Spiders, don't be temped by that, buy this first...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...The first album from Space set the tone for all their later material; dark and strange, with a sense of the ridiculous. Female Of The Species has become something of a classic, while Me & You Vs The World could only ever be a Space song – the melodies are cheerful and instantly hummable while the lyrics are about death and hopelessness. Neighbourhood celebrates everything strange, while Dark Clouds provides an uplifting break in the album, strangely enough considering the title. This is a good first album, although there are a few weaker moments. However, I would not recommend this album if you are scared of spiders – the CD is absolutely covered with them.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful