Spirea X

Spirea X was a short-lived dream pop/noise pop act on the 4AD label, spearheaded by ex-Primal Scream member Jim Beattie. The other members of the group were Judith Boyle and Andrew Kerr. In 1991, the group released the Chlorine Dream and Speed Reaction singles, along with the full-length Fireblade Skies. Combining sweet vocal melodies with alternately noisy and blurry bursts of guitars and dance beats, the record was definitely up on the then-current sound of the U.K., but it failed to make much of an impression with consumers and cynical tastemakers. Spirea X vanished without a trace, but Beattie and Boyle -- along with former Spirea X manager Simon Dine -- would later form Adventures in Stereo. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi