Spectrum

Spectrum emerged as Pete “Sonic Boom” Kember’s most prominent and direct undertaking following the dissolution of Spacemen 3. While his involvement in the Experimental Audio Research collective gave him room to pursue ambient soundscapes and textural explorations, Spectrum channeled the singer-guitarist’s pop-oriented impulses without relinquishing the mesmerizing otherworldliness that defined his body of work. The Spectrum moniker first surfaced as the title of Kember’s inaugural solo album, issued in 1990 prior to Spacemen 3’s split; that ethereal, largely amorphous set openly paid tribute to Suicide via a cover of “Rock ’n’ Roll Is Killing My Life.” Kember’s contributions to the group’s final album Recurring, including the gently undulating “Just to See You Smile,” further previewed the more focused approach that would characterize his subsequent endeavors.

Once Spacemen 3 disbanded, Kember assembled Spectrum alongside guitarist Richard Formby and bassist Mike Stout, with additional input from Pat Fish, also known as the Jazz Butcher. Following several singles, the ensemble delivered its first full-length effort, the expansive and luminous retro-pop collection Soul Kiss (Glide Divine), in 1992. By year’s end Formby had departed, replaced by Kevin Cowan, formerly of Darkside, and the reconfigured lineup released the covers EP Indian Summer in 1993. After devoting much of the ensuing year to Experimental Audio Research activities, Spectrum—now completed by guitarist Scott Riley, programmer Alf Hardy, and ex-Spacemen 3 bassist Pete Bassman—issued the 1994 album Highs, Lows and Heavenly Blows, another hypnotic set that probed unconventional scales and compositional frameworks. A further hiatus ensued while Kember attended to his parallel projects, yet Spectrum rejoined Seattle’s Jessamine for the joint release A Pox on You in 1996 and also put out the EP Songs for Owlsey that same year. The full-length Forever Alien arrived in 1997, accompanied by another Jessamine collaboration and sessions with the Silver Apples.

Although Kember stayed active throughout the early 2000s, Spectrum produced no new albums until Indian Giver appeared in 2008, a collaboration with Memphis production legend Jim Dickinson. The group resurfaced for occasional live dates, supporting My Bloody Valentine on its 2009 tour and performing at the 2011 All Tomorrow’s Parties festival, while also releasing the EP War Sucks in 2009.