Psychedelic Space Rock: The Sound of the Cosmos

Psychedelic space rock is a genre of music characterized by an expansive, exploratory sound and an emphasis on extended instrumental jams. It’s a style that draws on a wide range of influences, from classic rock to electronic music.

Introduction

Psychedelic space rock is a genre of music that emerged in the early 1970s. It is characterized by a combination of elements from psychedelic rock, Hard Rock, and progressive rock, with a lyrical focus on Outer Space, Science Fiction, and the exploration of the cosmos.

The genre began to take shape with the release of Pink Floyd’s 1971 album Meddle, which included the track “Echoes”, a 23-minute long piece that took up the entire second side of the LP. This was followed by the release of David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972, which furthered the genre’s development with its use of atmospheric synthesizers and narrative lyrics. Other important early examples of psychedelic space rock include Hawkwind’s 1972 album Doremi Fasol Latido and 1973’s Hall of the Mountain Grill, as well as 1974’s Red Queen to Gryphon Three by Gryphon.

In the 1980s and 1990s, interest in psychedelic space rock declined somewhat, but the genre continued to be influential on a number of subsequent musical movements, such as space metal, post-rock, and stoner rock. In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in psychedelic space rock, with bands such as Ozric Tentacles, Spacemen 3, Porcupine Tree, and Spiritualized gaining widespread acclaim.

What is Psychedelic Space Rock?

Psychedelic space rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Drawing on the style of psychedelic rock, space rock is characterized by a heavy use of effects such as echo, reverb, and feedback. This use of effects is intended to create a sense of “space” or “distance” between the performer and the audience.

While psychedelic space rock is often associated with the prog rock genre, it has also been influenced by artists from other genres such as krautrock, heavy metal, and even electronic music. Psychedelic space rock usually features lengthy instrumental sections and often relies heavily on synthesizers.

The History of Psychedelic Space Rock

Psychedelic space rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines elements of psychedelic rock and space rock. Psychedelic space rock began to be known in the early 1970s when Pink Floyd and Hawkwind started to experiment with sounds that created a “sense of space”. These groups were quickly followed by others such as Kraftwerk, Ash Ra Tempel, and Ozric Tentacles.

Psychedelic space rock is often characterized by an expansive, meandering sound that creates a “sense of space”, usually with lengthy instrumental sections backed by swirling guitars and electronic effects. The genre is often associated with the drug culture of the 1960s and 1970s, as many psychedelic space rock bands began their careers playing at underground venues associated with the drug culture.

The first wave of psychedelic space rock bands were largely influenced by the progressive rock movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Progressive rock bands such as Pink Floyd and Yes were for the most part based in Britain, while Krautrock bands such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream were based in Germany. These two movements combined to create a new sound which would be termed “psychedelic space rock”.

The second wave of psychedelic space rock bands emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as punk rock and new wave began to have an impact on the music scene. Bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, New Order, Talking Heads, and Television all began to experiment with elements of psychedelic space rock in their music. By the mid-1980s, these experimental sounds had coalesced into a new genre which would be known as “space punk”.

The Sound of Psychedelic Space Rock

Psychedelic space rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre is characterized by a heavy use of electronic effects, funky rhythms, and often strange or spacey lyrics.

The sound of psychedelic space rock is often compared to that of psychedelia, but with a heavier, more driving sound. The genre is also sometimes compared to krautrock and progressive rock.

The Influence of Psychedelic Space Rock

Psychedelic space rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines elements of psychedelic rock with space rock. Psychedelic space rock is characterized by a floating, dreamy sound that incorporates heavy use of reverb, delay and other effects. Guitars are often played in a clean or lightly overdriven tone, and the overall sound is frequently heavily atmospheric.

Psychedelic space rock originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s with bands such as Pink Floyd, Hawkwind and Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd. In the 1980s, the genre was further developed by English bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Spacemen 3. In the 1990s and 2000s, the American band Sunn O))) was a key innovator in the genre.

The Future of Psychedelic Space Rock

In the 1990s, a new genre of rock music emerged that combined the interstellar sounds of space rock with the mind-expanding properties of psychedelic drugs. This new genre, dubbed “psychedelic space rock,” quickly gained a cult following among fans of both genres.

In the 2010s, psychedelic space rock began to make a comeback, as new bands began to explore the possibilities of thegenre. These new bands are expanding the sound of psychedelic space rock, infusing it with elements of shoegaze, electronica, and even metal.

As psychedelic space rock continues to evolve, it is sure to remain one of the most exciting and innovative genres in rock music.