http://vimeo.com/29332692
STREAM: "Get a Grip" -
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/reviews/tracks/12459-get-a-grip/
STREAM: "Get a Grip" -
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/reviews/tracks/12459-get-a-grip/
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Spectrals
Bad Penny is
the debut album from Spectrals, aka 21 year-old Louis Jones. Mixing
ingredients of pop, soul, doo wop, and a garage rock ballad, it sounds
vintage but current, while the Yorkshire lilt in his voice (a result of
his hometown, Heckmondwike) places him firmly in the UK, rather than
Detroit.
Inspired
by the music he grew up listening to as a child, from the Rolling
Stones (the only CD's his mum ever has in her car) to The Style Council,
Elvis Costello and The Ronettes (artists he regularly shares on mix
tapes) it's all "just about love really."
In
eleven original songs, not heard on any of Spectrals previous tapes,
singles or EPs, he documents his relationship with his girlfriend, who
he has known since school, from the great to the not-so-good. "Love
songs are the kind of songs I like" says the guy who once turned
Beyonce's "Single Ladies" upside down ('Peppermint') "'not all of them
are nice, but they're all feelings I've had". As if he wasn't attached
to these songs enough, Louis recorded nearly all of the instruments on Bad Penny, with his brother, Will Jones, the only other musician on the album, on drums.
Of
course, Spectrals has always been a small operation. Now in its third
year of existence, Louis started by recording in a friend's
knocked-together studio when he became bored with the bands he spent
time with him in his teens. "Playing in bands with mates was a laugh but
I always fancied doing things myself and doing the music I really
liked" he says "Most of the bands we did were Hardcore, not pop."
Despite
originally only being for his closest friends, his Myspace soon
attracted the attention of discerning labels all over the world: from
Brooklyn label Captured Tracks (Dum Dum Girls, Wild Nothing) to
Brighton's Sex Is Disgusting (Mazes, Human Hair) to Underground Peoples,
where he eventually released last year's Extended Play. In
Wichita and Slumberland he's found another two labels that share his
love for classic pop that's in touch with its weird side.
Recorded with Richard Formby (producer on Wild Beasts' 'Smother') in early 2011, on Bad Penny,
Spectrals' knack for writing a great tune is more obvious than ever. "I
just love these songs" he says "all I'd hope is for people to come away
saying, 'they were 11 ace songs' or if there's a a guy or girl getting
messed about, that it makes sense to them. I'm not wanting make out I'm a
genius, I hate it when groups do that. People don't like being talked
down to, y'know? This is just songs". - Sian Rowe, 2011
 Spectrals
Bad Penny
(Slumberland)
Street Date: October 25, 2011
1. Get A Grip
2. Lockjaw
3. You Don't Have To Tell Me
4. Big Baby
5. Many Happy Returns
6. You Can't Live On Love Alone
7. Doing Time
8. Confetti
9. Luck Is There To Be Pushed
10. Brain Freeze
11. If I Think About The Magic Will It Go Away?
Spectrals
Get A Grip digital single
(Slumberland)
Street Date: October 11, 2011
2. Get A Grip (Demo)
SPECTRALS LINKS:
Label Page - http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/ | Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spectrals/106109132779585 Site - http://www.spectrals.co.uk/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/_SPECTRALS
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