Loop: Sonancy – Space rock pioneers back in orbit

Before there was shoegaze, grunge or Madchester, there was a space rock scene in the UK heralding the end of the 1980s and the last days of the Thatcher era. The most prominent exponents were Spaceman 3 from Rugby. Jason Pierce would later form Spiritualized and bring his gigantic vision to the brink of a mainstream crossover. Meanwhile, a band from Croydon called Loop joined the dots between The Velvet Underground, Can, The Stooges and Suicide. In 1991, just when they were really taking off, they split up.

Seeing as most of their contemporaries and predecessors have not only reformed but re-entered the ring with new material, it was probably only a matter of time before Loop followed up the All Tomorrow’s Parties and Primavera heritage act circuit with a fresh batch of songs. Sonancy is latin for “to create noise”, and it’s Loop’s first long player since A Gilded Eternity in 1990.

Sonancy is not radically different from what they did back in the day, but it sounds far better thanks to the slick wonders of modern technology and production. Fermion is pitch-perfect 21st-century psyche transporting the listener through a guitar wind tunnel and back again. The song titles reflect Robert Hampson’s keen interests in chemistry, science and astronomy.

Hampson is the sole constant member, and deserves much credit for this fine return to the fray. Sonancy will be sonic catnip to long-standing fans. Curious new ears will also be won over.