It’s hard to rank Spiritualized’s albums because they’ve been plugging away making solid music for so long. But arguably their best album, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space is turning 20 next year. To celebrate what will probably be a precursor/primer to a reissue, the band will play Ladies And Gentlemen in its entirety at a show later this fall. They’re doing it big at Barbican Hall in London accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra (percussion, brass, strings) and a gospel choir. Sounds epic. Here’s what frontman Jason Pierce (aka J Spaceman) had to say about the occasion:

It’s the 20th anniversary of ‘Ladies and gentlemen…’ next year so we figured we should be playing a celebratory concert to coincide. Fortunately the new album is also due next year… twenty years to the day since ‘Ladies and gentlemen…’ and so as they don’t compete, we decided to run an anniversary show this year and leave some clear space for the new album. I just didn’t wanna pass on the opportunity to perform ‘Ladies and gentlemen…’ live again. It’s such a massive and detailed piece of music to play and is still as demanding and relevant to me as it was on its release. In one 70 minute blast it just about covers everything I still find interesting and engaging in music… from free jazz, doo-wop, and soul to rock & roll, gospel, and the blues… All with heavy guns and the Barbican’s wide screen stage as the backdrop… It’s a real honour to be asked to play it there again.

Did you catch the part about a new Spiritualized album out next year? Not sure if Pierce means it will be out on the exact anniversary of Ladies And Gentlemen, but specifics aside, new Spiritualized music is on the way.

As for the Barbican show, see more info and a link to purchase tickets via Spiritualized’s Facebook page below.