christopher rye is frontman and lead guitarist of Brighton rock band, Space Angel, alongside Allan Wiseman (bass, additional guitar, vocals), AC Keys (Alfonso Cavassa, keyboards, vocals), and Fabio Sclafani (drums).
Space Angel blends the ambient, space-rock sounds of 70s Pink Floyd with big beats, Beatles-like melodies, Roxy-style electronics, and a touch of Bowie. christopher writes many of the songs, with others contributed by Allan Wiseman and AC Keys. Live, the band recall the heady days of 70s Floyd, with smoke, lasers, and theatrics.
You Are Next: the debut album
The band’s debut album, ‘You Are Next’, was released on 8 September 2023, featuring 10 of the band’s catalogue (of 35 songs to date), including lead single ‘Kites (for Joanna)’. It was the first release on christopher’s A Disreputable Gentleman label (aka DisRep). Find the LP on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon.
The album is also available on limited-edition transparent-red vinyl, gatefold red vinyl-effect CD, and cassette. For links to all formats and channels, go to the band’s webpage at www.SpaceAngel.rocks.
Most of the album was recorded in just two days, old-school style, with the band playing together in the big room at Brighton Road Recording Studios. A handful of keyboard and guitar overdubs were recorded at Brighton Road, and at christopher’s own studio, The Disreputable Gentleman’s Club.
Space Angel in 2024
The band has been gigging around Brighton in 2024, including a sellout 90-minute set at Brighton Electric’s Studio 45 venue – featuring the band’s full lightshow, smoke machines, lasers, and masks – and a gig with local tyros The EMC at The Gladstone in June.
Later this summer, Space Angel will start work on 12-song follow-up ‘Dive!’, including tracks debuted at The Gladstone, such as ‘Conquistador’, ‘Autumn is Turning to Gold’, and ‘I Could Be Loved’. The band will launch the album at a show later in the year.
Version 1.0
Version 1.0 of Space Angel featured Jordan Bedeau on drums and Harvey Mitchell on bass, but broke up when the pandemic made it impossible to continue. They appear in the band’s early ‘onstage’ videos, and remain friends with the current line-up.
Scroll down for links, videos, gallery, and more.
LINKS
www.facebook.com/SpaceAngelBand
www.soundcloud.com/spaceangelband/
www.instagram.com/space_angel_band
Videos
Space Angel live onstage
