Love and Rockets are the seminal, groundbreaking trio of Daniel Ash (vocals and guitar), David J (vocals and bass) and Kevin Haskins (drums). They formed in 1985 after the first split of their band, Bauhaus. Love and Rockets provided a clean slate and an opportunity to plumb the depths of imagination and influences.
Beggars Arkive continue their reissue series with the expanded vinyl edition of ‘Hot Trip To Heaven’.
The band’s fifth album, ‘Hot Trip To Heaven’, was strikingly different from anything previous, and has a diverse range of influences from twisted lounge jazz to ambient trance. With additional vocals by the celebrated Egyptian Belgian singer Natacha Atlas, the album’s world music influences are evident.
New York Magazine said it was, “hypnotic, glistening, dark and crashing,” and in 1994 the album was ahead of its time, pre-dating the electronic music revolution by a few years. Citing Primal Scream’s ‘Screamadelica’, Underworld’s ‘Dubnobasswithmyheadman’, The Orb and Aphex Twin as prime touchstones, ‘Hot Trip To Heaven’ spawned two singles; the hypnotic ‘This Heaven’ and the sprawling ‘Body and Soul’.
Double LP with a gatefold sleeve, out of print for over 25 years, and expanded with three extra tracks: ‘Firewater’ is an early version of ‘This Heaven’ (unreleased); ‘This Heaven (Experience Remix: Flying Vocal Mix)’ is an unreleased mix; ‘Coyote’ is taken from the ‘Body and Soul’ US 12” vinyl and CD single.