Spectrals

Basically, I really, really like the music coming from 'L' of Leeds AKA Spectrals. I'm probably wasting my breath cause it's exactly the sort of stuff that some kid will have blogged about over a year ago, but I don't read blogs and have been listening to Spectrals all evening, so if you've read this before: tough.

He released an excellent cassette on Suplex Cassettes about 8 months ago (I think), which sold out sharpish, but they did another run just before christmas, and that's when I grabbed a copy. There's the obvious comparisons/references- 60s girl group stuff, doo-wop (whatever that is), beach boys, 60s garage rock etc etc. Spectrals isn't really much like any of the aforementioned artists, and ends up sounding like Johnathan Richman singing over an early Orange Juice recording, which sounds irritating but is actually really, really good.

I'm a bit wary of all these faux-fi surf-pop bands which have sprung up of late, but I think that the strength of L's songs really sets him apart from most of these other artists. "Keep your magic out of my house" is the stand out track from his myspace, and could genuinely be a proper pop single, even though it probably won't be.

Besides the tape, Spectrals has released a 7" on Captured Tracks, has an upcoming split 7" with The Fair Ohs, a track on a 12" compilation and last but not least, a proper bona fide LP called 'Bad Penny', also coming out on Captured Tracks.

Phew.

Spectrals on Myspace

Suplex Cassettes

Captured Tracks