Spacemen 3 - Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To
(Superior Viaduct)

The next installment in Superior Viaduct's ongoing Spacemen 3 reissue series has arrived – the infamous Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To. Although this could be classified as a peripheral release, it's importance cannot be understated. As legend has it, these “demos” were the earliest incarnation of what would become Spacemen 3's debut album Sound Of Confusion. Only after the release of Confusion did Spacemen 3 admit that these “North Hampton Demos” were actually the superior recordings. These recordings were first made available as a single LP in 1990 and since then, has been a sort of white whale within the groups catalog. Taking Drugs reflects the band in their earliest phase as disciples of The Stooges fuzzed out, feedback-laced psychedelia. 
Superior Viaduct has released the 2LP version which includes a glimpse towards the more minimal approach that Spacemen would rely on for the duration of their existence, with tracks and traces of their sophomore effort The Perfect Prescription. I've always enjoyed these tracks but not until this release have I actually come to side with the band and see the superiority of Taking Drugs over Sound Of Confusion. The quality of this pressing makes these takes seem less like demos and more like definitive versions. For those who feel let down by the gentler side of later era Spacemen 3, this is the collection for you. With or without drugs, take this and be well. (Adam). 
Check out a track here.