Tin Planet
| Tin Planet | ||||
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| Studio album by Space | ||||
| Released | 9 March 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
| Studio | Parr Street Studios, Liverpool | |||
| Genre | Alternative pop | |||
| Length | 49:36 | |||
| Label | Gut | |||
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| Singles from Tin Planet | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
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| NME |
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Tin Planet is the second album by English band Space, released on 9 March 1998.
Recorded in late 1997 following a tumultuous year for the group, Tin Planet was a continuation of the eclectic blend of musical styles explored on their debut album Spiders. However, it was noted that the more abrasive aspects of their sound were toned down considerably from their debut, with the songs being more melodic with a prominent cabaret and easy listening influence. Keyboardist Franny Griffiths' love of techno and electronic music was also brought to the fore, culminating in three tracks that were primarily dance-orientated.
The album was the first Space record to feature long-time collaborator David "Yorkie" Palmer as full-time bassist, and the last to feature founding member Andy Parle on drums (though he was not credited in the album's liner notes), with Leon Caffrey taking his place shortly afterwards.
Tin Planet peaked at #3 in the UK charts, two places higher than Spiders. It was their first album to enter the Australian ARIA top 100 albums chart, debuting on 24 May 1998 and peaking at #74 the following week. The album peaked at #11 in New Zealand in May 1998. The songs "Avenging Angels", "The Ballad of Tom Jones" (a duet with Cerys Matthews of the band Catatonia), "Begin Again" and "Bad Days" were released as singles, all hitting the UK top 40.
In 1996, Space released their debut album Spiders on Gut Records. Combining surreal, darkly humorous lyrics and a great amount of styles and genres, including rock, techno, hip hop, funk and rave, a result of the different musical tastes of the band members, the album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 5 on the UK Albums Chart and becoming certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry in December 1996 for sales of over 300,000. Nonetheless, in mid-1997, during their tour of the United States, where the band began to find minor success, numerous personal problems hit the band. The band were constantly under stress, which reached such an extent that keyboardist Franny Griffiths developed an ulcer, lyricist and vocalist Tommy Scott lost his voice and the band's guitarist and other lyricist and vocalist, Jamie Murphy, "still only 21, simply lost it completely and had a spell in psychiatric care being fed anti-depressants and milk."
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