The difference, by ear
Space rock extends one idea; neo-psychedelia writes songs and decorates them.
Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 90 to 140 bpm. Songs run longer in space rock: usually 6 to 20 minutes, against 3 to 7 minutes in neo-psychedelia. To hear the difference, play The Flaming Lips next to Hawkwind. Both grew out of psychedelic rock, space rock first and neo-psychedelia eleven years after. United Kingdom appears in the origins of both.
In figures
Neo-psychedelia
Where it sits
Rock › Psychedelic rock › Neo-psychedelia
In short
Psychedelia retold by every new generation, with digital studios and rather less mysticism.
How it sounds
- Abundant reverb and delay, with the voice treated as an instrument.
- Modern studio production carrying 1960s sonic references.
- Pop melody under a thick layer of effects.
Key acts
- The Flaming Lips
- Tame Impala
- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Start here
The pickTame Impala - Lonerism. One man, a bedroom studio, a stadium sound.
Full page →Space rock
Where it sits
Rock › Psychedelic rock › Space rock
In short
A repetitive riff under a thick layer of synthesizers and cosmic whoosh. Lemmy went straight from here into Motörhead.
How it sounds
- A repetitive riff, often on a single chord, held for tens of minutes.
- Analogue synthesizers, oscillators and white noise as a permanent layer.
- Hypnotic structure with almost no harmonic development.
Key acts
- Hawkwind
- Gong
- Spacemen 3
- Monster Magnet
Start here
The pickHawkwind - Silver Machine. That's Lemmy singing, two years before Motörhead.
Full page →