Mixed over a drawn out eight month period while Pierce was housebound; undergoing experimental chemotherapy treatment to combat a degenerative liver disease, 'Sweet Heart, Sweet Light' is the result of drug induced stupor. See the “Huh?” that dominates the medical logo inspired artwork: the fact that this was the album’s intended title tells you all you need to know about Pierce’s fractured mental state at the time of mixing. Yet instead of leading to something formless, 'Sweet Heart, Sweet Light' somehow plays like a love letter to rock and roll and makes a strong case for Pierce’s most inspirational and uplifting album.
To continue with the medical imagery this is a repeat prescription of Spiritualized. It continues the rock ‘n’ roll gospel / psychedelic space rock / delta blues template that Pierce carved out a long time ago, yet there’s something more vulnerable and exposed in this outing. The inclusion of some of Pierce’s most simple and pretty melodies ever means there is nothing to hide behind anymore, and for better or worse, his vocals are pushed right up in the mix. For once we have a Spiritualized record that makes no effort to exclude casual passers by. It’s an all or nothing gamble that always aims for the maximum emotional response, and it’s the rawness of this emotion that makes 'Sweet Heart, Sweet Light' such a thrilling experience.
There are moments where Pierce’s sentimental leanings undoubtedly lay his band open to attack. However, when his frail voice gasps around phrases like “Help me Lord, help me Jesus”, despite whatever you may think of the statement, you cannot accuse Pierce of fucking around here. He’s not singing about whether he’s got enough change for a pint of milk, he’s going for the essence of what it means to be human and alive.
'Sweet Heart, Sweet Light' shows Spiritualized at their most honest and unguarded, but also at their most self destructive. Lead single HEY JANE actually disintegrates half way through its nine minute duration, taking the leather jacket Velvets intensity past the point of no return before rebuilding obliteration into salvation (“Sweet heart, sweet light… Love of my life”). It’s like watching a car crash then seeing the wreck fire itself up and fly into space. 'Headin' For the Top Now' plays to a similar pattern, stretching its two chords to breaking point under guitar destruction so atonal it’s obnoxious. Just when you think the song has died a brutal death, Pierce’s eleven year old daughter Poppy enters singing “Mary Mary quite contrary”, it leaves the listener completely disorientated, clutching onto the wreckage while everything around is falling apart.
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While the album appears to be all about Pierce recapturing his love of life (it’s his first batch of songs since fully recovering from contracting double pneumonia in 2005), the sense of inevitable destruction and annihilation is unavoidable. Unlike Spiritualized’s earlier work, the naivety where all you needed was some love and a gospel choir has been refined. Despite still being life affirming, the life it celebrates never claims to be perfect. In the closing track 'So Long You Pretty Things', Pierce repeats the chorus “So long you pretty thing, God save your little soul. The music that you played so hard ain’t on your radio. And all your dreams of diamond rings and all that rock and roll could bring you. Sail on, so long.” If the lyrics read like a man giving up and admitting defeat, they sound like anything but. Backed by a magical mystery tour brass section the album’s extended outro builds and holds on to hope like a never ending sunset. It celebrates the truth that things will always be out of your control and somehow becomes more empowering because it’s aware of life’s limitations.
Pierece has admitted that due to his medical intake at the time, he’s been left with an album he doesn’t feel like he’s made. At times the record revels dangerously in its own falling apart; finding inspiration in moments where direction and momentum appear completely pointless. However, throughout its duration, Pierce’s self-help book stealing lyrics bury themselves head first into the mess, clutching onto the coat tails of melodies that feel as familiar as your own reflection. When everything is disintegrating there’s always something you can grab onto to pull yourself through. As a result, there’s a point where Sweet Heart, Sweet Light stops being about the man who oversaw its creation but becomes an ode to the unrelenting nature of the universal human spirit. No wonder he feels like he didn’t make it.
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