The band has been through several lineups and musical styles with Gillespie being the only constant element. Initially a psyceldic rock group with a formless loud guitar based sound influenced by the primal scream therapy theory (which also gave the band their name). The music was meant to be somewhat instinctual and primal in nature.
They only achieved national success with Screamadelica and in particular the singles Loaded and 'Come Together'. Screamdelica was blending rock with dance music. DJ and Producer Andrew Weatherall remixed most of the basic Scream tracks and added his own trademark dance groove.
Give Out but Don't Give Up, recorded in Nashville was another radical departure. More of an out and out rock and roll record, critics compared it in style and sound to the early Rolling Stones.
Another line up change added Kevin Shields and Mani to the group. Shields brought a great deal of producing talent and a third guitarist to the live band. Mani was the key addition though. Starting with the Vanishing Point album (influenced by the film of the same name) a new complex dance/dub rhythm was present in most of the tracks harking back to the crossover success of Screamdelica.
Vanishing Point revitalised the band and introduced a far more complex musical dynamic that has so far have produced increasingly complex yet accessible albums in the form of XTRMNTR and Evil Heat in a surprisingly short period of time.
The consistent lineup has also allowed the band to coalesce as a live act not only reproducing their studio albums live but also able to recreate the band's entire back catalogue.