# Peter Kember

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**Peter Kember** (born 19 November 1965),[2] also known by his stage name **Sonic Boom**, is an English singer-songwriter, composer and [record producer](/source/Record_producer). He was a founding member, vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist of [neo-psychedelic](/source/Neo-psychedelia) band [Spacemen 3](/source/Spacemen_3), lasting from 1982 until the band's dissolution in 1991.[3] He is now based in [Sintra](/source/Sintra), Portugal.[4]

Kember has also led the musical projects Spectrum and E.A.R. (Experimental Audio Research), sometimes as the only member. He has played and collaborated with a number of artists, including [Stereolab](/source/Stereolab), [Panda Bear](/source/Panda_Bear_(musician)), [Yo La Tengo](/source/Yo_La_Tengo), and Sinner DC. He contributed production work on [MGMT](/source/MGMT)'s second album *[Congratulations](/source/Congratulations_(album))*, Panda Bear's albums *[Tomboy](/source/Tomboy_(album))* and *[Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper](/source/Panda_Bear_Meets_the_Grim_Reaper)*, and [Beach House](/source/Beach_House)'s album *[7](/source/7_(Beach_House_album))*.

## Early life and education

Kember lived in [Dunchurch](/source/Dunchurch) during his childhood,[5] and attended [Rugby School](/source/Rugby_School) until he was 16.[6] He later attended Rugby Art College where he met [Jason Pierce](/source/Jason_Pierce).[7]

## Music career

### Influences

In discussing music that was important to him, Kember mentioned [Kraftwerk](/source/Kraftwerk), [Sam Cooke](/source/Sam_Cooke), [Laurie Anderson](/source/Laurie_Anderson), [Pierre Henry](/source/Pierre_Henry) & [Michel Colombier](/source/Michel_Colombier), [Bo Diddley](/source/Bo_Diddley), [the Sandpipers](/source/The_Sandpipers), [Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark](/source/Orchestral_Manoeuvres_in_the_Dark) and [George Faith](/source/George_Faith).[8]

### Spacemen 3

Main article: [Spacemen 3](/source/Spacemen_3)

Kember initially came to prominence as a member of the outfit Spacemen 3.[9]

### Sonic Boom

Kember's first solo album, *Spectrum*, was recorded in 1989 while Spacemen 3 were still a going concern, and featured the other members of the group. A second album, *[All Things Being Equal](/source/All_Things_Being_Equal_(album))*, was released in 2020.[10][11] A collaborative album with Sinner DC, *Maps*, was released in 2025 on Mental Groove Records.

### Spectrum

Kember recruited new musicians [Richard Formby](/source/Richard_Formby), who had previously contributed guitar and keyboards to Sonic Boom's side of the final Spacemen 3 album *[Recurring](/source/Recurring_(album))*, and Mike Stout[12] for the group Spectrum in 1991. Initial Spectrum releases carried on from the sound of late-period Spacemen 3, featuring conventional songs and a regular band. First single "How You Satisfy Me" was an original composition by Kember and Formby reminiscent of 1960s [garage bands](/source/Garage_rock), based as it was upon the Chip Taylor-penned pop hit "[I Can't Let Go](/source/I_Can't_Let_Go)". 1992's *Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)* album was split between songs and longer experimental pieces featuring [drones](/source/Drone_(music)) and repetition. Another single from the album, a cover version of [Daniel Johnston](/source/Daniel_Johnston)'s "True Love Will Find You in the End" reached number 70 on the UK singles charts.[13] Formby departed the band as soon as the album was released and Stout left not long after. *Highs, Lows and Heavenly Blows* (1994) featured a new line-up, primarily Scott Riley (guitar/vocals) and Alf Hardy (engineer), but also including former Spacemen 3 bass player Pete Bassman (Pete Bain), was also mainly song-oriented with Scott co-writing and taking lead on Take Your Time. Kember has occasionally collaborated with [Jessamine](/source/Jessamine_(band)) and [Silver Apples](/source/Silver_Apples) under the Spectrum name.

Since 1996 the Spectrum name has been used for Kember's solo work, sometimes with Bain and [recording engineer](/source/Recording_engineer)/musician Alf Hardy. The music made with Bain and Hardy was often in the same vein as E.A.R., reflecting an increased interest in [vintage analogue synthesizers](/source/Synthesizer#The_start_of_the_analog_synthesizer_era), especially those made by [EMS](/source/Electronic_Music_Studios_(London)_Ltd). After issuing 1997's *[Forever Alien](/source/Forever_Alien)* album, there were no further releases of new material under the Spectrum moniker until 2008's *Indian Giver* collaboration with [Jim Dickinson](/source/Jim_Dickinson). Kember has also worked with [Füxa](/source/F%C3%BCxa)'s [Randall Nieman](/source/Randall_Nieman).

During 2008–11, a four-piece Spectrum toured extensively in America and Europe. This included providing main support for the 2008 reformation tour of [My Bloody Valentine](/source/My_Bloody_Valentine_(band)), and a performance at the [All Tomorrow's Parties](/source/All_Tomorrow's_Parties_(music_festival)) festival in May 2011. An EP, *War Sucks*, was released in 2009.

### Experimental Audio Research

Kember formed the collective Experimental Audio Research, also known as E.A.R. Although the first E.A.R. album to be released (*Mesmerised*, 1994) was Kember on his own, the initial intention of E.A.R. was to record experimental "soundscape" music with collaborators. The second album, *Beyond the Pale* (1996), which was actually the first to be recorded, in 1992, included [Kevin Shields](/source/Kevin_Shields) of [My Bloody Valentine](/source/My_Bloody_Valentine_(band)), [Kevin Martin](/source/Techno_Animal) and [AMM](/source/AMM_(group))'s [Eddie Prévost](/source/Eddie_Pr%C3%A9vost). The album was remixed by German musician [Thomas Köner](/source/Thomas_K%C3%B6ner) in 1997, and released as *The Köner Experiment*. Prévost also appeared on *Phenomena 256* (1996) and *Millennium Music* (1998), both of which included a larger group of musicians. *Data Rape* (1998) was recorded solely by Kember, using the technique of [circuit bending](/source/Circuit_bending), which he continued to use on the *Vibrations* EP (2000) and *Continuum* album (2001). The latter two releases were made with assistance from [Delia Derbyshire](/source/Delia_Derbyshire), formerly of the [BBC Radiophonic Workshop](/source/BBC_Radiophonic_Workshop), who also had a track named after her on the Spectrum album *Forever Alien*. The most recent E.A.R. release is *Worn to a Shadow* (2005).

### Other musical collaborations

Kember has also played and collaborated with Birmingham band [Magnétophone](/source/Magn%C3%A9tophone) who were signed to 4AD Records, performing with them live on European tours between 2006 & 2007 (he also managed them during this period), The Field Trip, [Stereolab](/source/Stereolab), [Yo La Tengo](/source/Yo_La_Tengo), [Britta Phillips](/source/Britta_Phillips) and [Dean Wareham](/source/Dean_Wareham), [Cheval Sombre](/source/Cheval_Sombre), [Cloudland Canyon](/source/Cloudland_Canyon_(band)), and [Pat Fish](/source/Pat_Fish) of [The Jazz Butcher](/source/The_Jazz_Butcher), [The Fields of Hay](/source/The_Fields_of_Hay) and with the Italian band [Julie's Haircut](/source/Julie's_Haircut).

2006 saw Kember mentor [The Flowers of Hell](/source/The_Flowers_of_Hell) through the creation of their self-titled debut, mixing and performing on a track[14] and returning to do the same on the group's 2009 [Come Hell or High Water](/source/Come_Hell_or_High_Water_(The_Flowers_of_Hell_album)) album.[15]

In 2022, Kember collaborated with [Black Market Karma](/source/Black_Market_Karma) on a track *[The Sour Truth](/source/The_Sour_Truth)* released in 2023.[16] The single is produced by Kember and features him on synth and percussion.

### Work as a producer

Kember produced [Blair 1523](/source/Blair_1523)'s debut album, *Beautiful Debris*. He remixed Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham's *L'Avventura* album, releasing *Sonic Souvenirs* in 2003. In 2010, Kember undertook superervisory production on [MGMT](/source/MGMT)'s second album, titled *[Congratulations](/source/Congratulations_(album))*. In 2011, he mixed and mastered [Panda Bear](/source/Panda_Bear_(musician))'s fourth album, *[Tomboy](/source/Tomboy_(album))*. In 2012 he produced TEEN's record *In Limbo*. In 2015, he co-produced Panda Bear's fifth album, *[Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper](/source/Panda_Bear_Meets_the_Grim_Reaper)*.[17] He also did mixing work on [Deakin](/source/Deakin_(musician))'s first solo work, *[Sleep Cycle](/source/Sleep_Cycle_(album))*, in 2016. Kember collaborated in the production of *[7](/source/7_(Beach_House_album))*, the [Beach House](/source/Beach_House) album released on 11 May 2018. He mixed Moon Duo's 2019 album, *Stars Are the Light*

## Packaging and formats

Spectrum and E.A.R. releases have often featured elaborate packaging, unusual formats, or limited editions. The LP version of the Sonic Boom album *Spectrum* came with a revolving "[Op art](/source/Op_art)" sleeve. 2000 copies came with a slip allowing purchasers to also buy a limited 10" coloured vinyl EP. The EP contained experimental drone recordings, with instructions to play at 16, 33, 45 or 78 RPM. The group Spectrum's first album *Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)* was originally released in a transparent [PVC](/source/Polyvinyl_chloride) sleeve, with a blue oil and water mixture contained within it. (These notoriously burst when being shipped to record store). The LP was pressed on transparent vinyl. E.A.R.'s first single release was *Pocket Symphony*, a 5" vinyl record with cover art by [Anthony Ausgang](/source/Anthony_Ausgang). E.A.R.'s "Sub Aqua / Tidal / Lunar" (1995) was an 8" vinyl release, a [picture disc](/source/Picture_disc) with a [locked groove](/source/Locked_groove) at the end of the second side. "Sputnik" (1997), a split single with [Thurston Moore](/source/Thurston_Moore) and [Don Fleming](/source/Don_Fleming_(musician)) on the other side, was pressed on glittery 7" vinyl. Another 7" single, "Data Rape (Part 9)" has a drawing by artist [Savage Pencil](/source/Savage_Pencil) scratched onto the B-side instead of music. 1998's "Death of a Robot" is pressed on 9" clear vinyl.

## Discography

### As Sonic Boom

**Albums:**

- *Spectrum* (1990)
- *[All Things Being Equal](/source/All_Things_Being_Equal_(album))* (2020)
- *[Reset](/source/Reset_(Panda_Bear_and_Sonic_Boom_album))* (2022; collaboration with [Panda Bear](/source/Panda_Bear_(musician)))
- *Maps* (2025; collaboration with Sinner DC)

**Singles/EPs:**

- *Angel* (1989)
- *Octaves/Tremolos* (1990)
- *Drone Dream* (1991)
- *Mechanical Man* (1994)
- *The Sundowner* (2000)
- *[The Sour Truth](/source/The_Sour_Truth)* (2023) (with [Black Market Karma](/source/Black_Market_Karma))

### As Spectrum

**Albums:**

- *Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)* (1992)
- *Highs, Lows and Heavenly Blows* (1994)
- *[Forever Alien](/source/Forever_Alien)* (1997)
- *A Lake of Teardrops [Spectrum & Silver Apples LP]* (1999) (with [Silver Apples](/source/Silver_Apples))

**Compilations and special releases:**

- *What Came Before After* (1994) [compilation]
- *A Lake of Teardrops* (1999)
- *Live Chronicles Vol. 1* (2001) [live recordings]
- *Live Chronicles Vol. 2* (2001) [live recordings]
- *Refractions: Thru the Rhythms of Time 1989–1997* (2004) [compilation]
- *Indian Giver: Spectrum meets Cpt. Memphis* (2008) [with [Jim Dickinson](/source/Jim_Dickinson)]

**Singles/EPs:**

- *How You Satisfy Me* (1992)
- *True Love Will Find You in the End* (1992)
- *Super Sympathy Spectrum Stocking Stuffer* (1992) [split EP with The Field Trip]
- *Indian Summer* (1993)
- *Undo the Taboo* (1994)
- *California Lullabye* (1994)
- *Songs for Owsley [EP]* (1996)
- *A Pox on You [Spectrum and Jessamine EP]* (1996) [with Jessamine]
- *Feels Like I'm Slipping Away* (1997)
- *Interface/Come Out to Play* (1999) [split EP with Imajinery Friends]
- *War Sucks [EP]* (2009)

### As E.A.R. (Experimental Audio Research)

**Albums, etc.:**

- *Mesmerised* (1994)
- *Beyond the Pale* (1996, recorded 1992) [with Kevin Shields]
- *Phenomena 256* (1996)
- *The Köner Experiment* (1997)
- *Millennium Music* (1998)
- *Data Rape* (1998)
- *Living Sound [E.A.R. & Jessamine]* (1999)
- *Pestrepeller* (1999) (Limited to 1900 copies)
- *Vibrations* (2000)
- *Continuum* (2001)
- *Worn to a Shadow* (2005)[18][19]

### Remixes

- *The Sonic Boom Mixes EP* – Sinner DC (Mental Groove, 2013)

## References

1. Matthew Liam Fogg (4 June 2014). ["Peter Kember, space rock enigma"](http://hero-magazine.com/article/22792/peter-kember-space-rock-enigma/). *HERO magazine*. Retrieved 21 July 2019.

1. [Colin Larkin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer)) (ed.) (1992). *[The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)*. First ed. [Guinness Publishing](/source/Guinness_Publishing). p. 2324. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.

1. Jason Ankeny (19 November 1965). ["Sonic Boom | Biography"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sonic-boom-mn0000033738). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 25 August 2014.

1. ["The Quietus | News | Sonic Boom Shares New Track, 'The Way That You Live'"](https://thequietus.com/articles/28082-sonic-boom-the-way-that-you-live-new-song). *The Quietus*. Retrieved 7 September 2020.

1. [""Interview with Tony Kember""](https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MY+CV+Your+neighbourhood%2C+your+report.-a096940609). *Thefreelibrary.com*. 2003.

1. Morse, Erik (15 December 2009). [*"Spacemen 3 and the Birth of Spiritualized"*](https://books.google.com/books?id=IWI6keyMDxQC&dq=spacemen+3+%22sonic+boom%22+%22rugby+school%22&pg=PT52). Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857121042.

1. ["Spacemen 3 Biography"](https://spacemen3.co.uk/bio/). *Spacemen3.co.uk*. Retrieved 9 September 2025.

1. Kember, Peter (June 2020). "My Life in Music: Sonic Boom". *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))*. No. 277. p. 118.

1. Staff, The Alt Editing (2020-06-24). ["Interview: Sonic Boom"](https://www.getalternative.com/interview-sonic-boom/). *[The Alternative](/source/The_Alternative_(online_magazine))*. Retrieved 2026-01-12.

1. Dorris, Jesse. ["Sonic Boom: All Things Being Equal"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sonic-boom-all-things-being-equal/). *Pitchfork*. Retrieved 2025-02-08.

1. Quietus, The (2020-07-03). ["Sonic Boom — All Things Being Equal"](https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/sonic-boom-pete-kember-all-things-being-equal-review/). *The Quietus*. Retrieved 2025-02-08.

1. ["Sonic Boom - Spectrum"](http://www.sonic-boom.info/spectrum.php). *Sonic-boom.info*

1. ["True love will find you in the end | full Official Chart History"](https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/true-love-will-find-you-in-the-end/). *Officialcharts.com*

1. Grayson Currin (28 June 2007). ["The Flowers of Hell"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10362-the-flowers-of-hell/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_Media)*

1. Ian Gormely (20 April 2009). ["The Flowers of Hell"](http://exclaim.ca/music/article/flowers_of_hell-come_hell_high_water). *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)*

1. Franklin, Dave. ["Black Market Karma and Tess Parks - The Sky Was All Diseased (Flower Power Records)"](https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/BlackMarketKarmaandTessParksTheSkyWasAllDiseasedFlowerPowerRecords). *The Big Takeover*

1. *Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper*. Domino Recording Company. 2015.

1. ["Spectrum, E.A.R., and Sonic Boom Discography"](http://www.sonic-boom.info/discography/). *Sonic-boom.info*. Retrieved 25 August 2014.

1. ["Music Search, Recommendations, Videos and Reviews"](http://www.allmusic.com). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 25 August 2014.

## External links

- [3ammagazine.com 2002 interview](http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/taking-drugs-to-make-music-to-take-drugs-to/)
- [Rockedition.com interview, 2011](https://web.archive.org/web/20110618152319/http://www.rockedition.com/interviews/interview-with-pete-kember-of-spectrum/)
- [Alteredzones.com interview, 2011](https://web.archive.org/web/20110903014859/http://alteredzones.com/posts/1234/artist-profile-sonic-boom/)
- [Interview with Peter Kember in Spain, c. 2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJMHeNMtUII) (Youtube video)
- [Interview with Peter Kember, c. 2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KapuGxG-0KQ&NR=1) (Youtube video)
- ['Soul Kiss (Glide Divine), Spectrum's timeless masterpiece dismantled…'](http://dockellisrecords.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/soul-kiss-glide-divine-spectrums-timeless-masterpiece/) – Interview with Kember about the LP, 2014

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Peter Kember](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kember) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kember?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.