Soon after disco had endured its dramatic fall from fashion (ousted by more linear synth-pop stylings and ritualistic burning of some of its recordings) a smaller, albeit equally important revolution was rising in the town of Rugby, East Midlands, soon to be lauded with being a benefactor of the psych music revival.

Far flung from the popular music then dominating the airwaves, Spacemen 3, formed in 1982, nostalgically re-birthed the essence of psychedelia that had flourished in its prismatic, musical form nearly a couple of decades prior. The creative conception of Peter Kember and Jason Pierce formed through drug-fueled experimentation and a penchant for repetitive and entrancing music was soon to amass a cult following and by the time it had done so, had put a stamp on the industry with their own subsection of psych.

A well documented and scornful split of the aforementioned core members duly put an end to Spacemen 3 in 1991, but since, undeterred, Peter Kember has remained committed to releasing his blend of droning space rock; all done so by way of his pseudonym Sonic Boom and with groups E.A.R and Spectrum.

The latter is a project currently reinvigorated by Peter Kember’s decision to play a series of dates in the UK and Europe this month, inclusive of a London slot for psychedelic stalwarts Bad Vibrations promotions.

Whatever inception of Kember’s you may resonate with most, given that his schedule not only includes his several previously talked about monikers, but also differing collaborations and production work; it may be wise to catch Spectrum whilst they are currently active. With former Spaceman Will Carruthers picking up bass duties, it’s professedly, says Kember, the closest he wants to get to a Spacemen 3 reunion. So, if it’s the dynamisms of duo Kember and Pierce you prefer, at least there’s the strong chance of some of their past material being aired…

Matthew Liam Fogg: I recently saw Spectrum affixed with being one of your more straightforward projects, less experimental perhaps compared to the likes of E.A.R. When it came to releasing and playing as Spectrum, what was your ethos? Or was it just a specific style you wanted to explore?
Peter Kember: I can see why some might see or say that, but I’m not sure I agree totally. Spectrum and Spacemen 3 are both in a very similar vein and E.A.R. has parallels with things I did whilst in S3 like Ecstasy Symphony, for example. Of course, different people bring different things to different records. I didn’t make these records without a heap of help from other band members.

MLF: You’re billed to play in London quite imminently, somewhere where there’s a notable psychedelic presence in a lot of music heard in its underground scene. How connected to it do you feel, now, given that your previous group Spacemen 3 are often lauded with being hugely influential in the neo-psych’ revival?
PK: That’s very flattering, I’m not sure. It’s cool to see good bands coming out, but I’m not sure our effect is much more than that of our ethos, having played out against all odds. It really didn’t look this way back in the ’80s. It is very touching that people remember us fondly.

MLF: Mentioning London’s music scene, you never did the typical relocate to London when starting out in music, but stayed in your hometown of Rugby. Why did you choose to stay put?
PK: I think it was good to keep away from undue external influence and I think we knew we had something strong. Even from the first jam, something clicked.

MLF: Given your numerous past and current projects, why was the time right to play live again as Spectrum?
PK: I like to play for the kids who turned on to it all in the last decade. The Internet boomers. I’ve always had a purist, ‘play it close to the recorded version’ outlook and keeping stuff from getting warped out in the wrong way. Of course, we have treat versions too, but I like to keep the aesthetic straight. I guess that’s what people want, to hear the songs as they were always intended.

MLF: How does it feel having a younger generation coming to your shows that perhaps weren’t born when you started making music?
PK: It’s great. Kids are pretty turned on these days. They know what they like and know the detail. I’ve got a lot of time for that.

MLF: You recently professed that Spacemen 3, and perhaps your music post-spacemen 3, as something that doesn’t fit into a particular scene. A blip on the radar, much like The Velvet Underground and The Stooges (before they soaked into popular culture). Is this how you always envisioned it? 
PK: Sure. I’ve always liked strange palettes and I’m still psyched to be doing that sort of stuff in other forms. Working with Panda Bear is a pinnacle of that. He’s great at taking odd stuff and making it magical and he is very down with trying to push the parameters. The pure concept of organising noise – to make pop-style music.

MLF: Kevin Shields, of My Bloody Valentine, is a notable contributor to some of your past work and someone you’ve often collaborated with. Why was he appealing to work with?
PK: Kevin is a king of creating magic out of improbable sources. Great ears for what’s awesome. In fact, I wish I’d done more collaborating with Kevin. I love his music. Everything I love influences me in some form. My Bloody Valentine were one of our few contemporaries.

MLF: Looking back through your substantial body of work, do you ever view it as a sort of legacy? Or are they all just steps to where you are now?
PK: Legacy is a funny word. I am proud of it and I, mostly, get treated very sweetly based on it. I’m happy I’ve been able to keep working with refreshing and inspiring people. I feel I have the best job in the world most days.

MLF: Can we expect any more Spacemen 3-minded performances, à la 2010s ‘a reunion of friends’ show in the future?
PK: No. I’m very happy, as I see the picture widen, that Spacemen 3 never did the reform thing. Some bands have made shoddy endnotes to their careers. Others did it great, but in Spacemen 3 there is still no real connection between the members anymore. Will Carruthers plays with Spectrum, which is killer, but that’s pretty much as close as I want to get to it.

Bad Vibrations presents Spectrum tonight, Wednesday 4th June at Electrowerks,  7 Torrens St, London, EC1V 1NQ London. Doors from 8pm, tickets available online here.