The Space Brothers

The Space Brothers are a UK trance group founded in 1997 by Stephen Jones and Rick Simmonds. The act works under a number of names, including Chakra, Lustral, Ascension, Essence, Ultrahigh, The Realm, Force Majeure, Quadraphonic and Lamai. Jones and Simmonds also launch the online download store Audiojelly, which carries their own productions and side-project material alongside releases by other dance acts.

Early releases and breakthrough

Before using the Space Brothers name, the pair release Stay With Me as Ultrahigh, a track that gains club attention and enters the lower end of the UK Top 40 in 1995. They then release I Am as Chakra, a darker and more progressive trance track that attracts support from Sasha and John Digweed. Digweed contributes a remix with Nick Muir under their Bedrock alias. I Am reaches number 24 on the UK singles chart in January 1997.

1997–1999: singles and album

1997 becomes a strong year for the group, with several record deals and a run of vocal trance releases. After signing to Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto imprint for Someone, they choose Manifesto Records as their main label for the period. Their first single there, Shine, enters the UK charts. Forgiven (I Feel Your Love) follows in November 1997 and spends seven weeks in the UK chart over the festive period.

In 1998 they step back from the Space Brothers name and concentrate on other projects, including Essence and Lustral. They return in 1999 with Legacy, released in July and featuring vocals by Kate Cameron plus a remix by Matt Darey. The single charts in the UK and leads into their debut album, Shine, which includes a remix disc assembled with Paul Oakenfold. The album is described as one of the first trance albums released by an act in the genre.

Later activity

The Space Brothers name becomes less active after the album period, although Jones and Simmonds continue to record under other aliases. In late 2002 they issue a new Space Brothers track, One More Chance, as a 12-inch and digital download, but no commercial release follows. Later promo releases of Everywhere I Go and Forgiven on the Liverpool-based Boss label help renew interest in the group’s catalogue.