‘I made a decision on this record to limit the more aggressive edges of my music, and as a consequence I think the sound is more accessible, but that’s not why I did it—I did it because happy, upbeat, indie guitar music can be really great if it’s done right, with passion and honesty, and…
Stars have shared a beautifully melancholic festive song in ‘Chrismas Anyway’. We’re huge fans of Christmas songs here at Spectral Nights, especially ones that evoke the sadness of the season, and this is a fine addition to the list that includes Mud’s ‘Lonely This Christmas’, Joni Mitchell’s ‘River’, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ and East 17’s…
Dutch Uncles have shared the video for ‘True Entertainment’, the first single and title track from their new album (out on 10 March, 2023 via Memphis Industries. With a title inspired by a nickname given to vocalist – and incredible dancer – Duncan Wallis by guitarist Peter Broadhead, the song falls somewhere between Prince, Phoenix…
Photo credit: Matt Higgs Hundred Reasons have shared new single ‘Glorious Sunset’ – their first new material in 15 years and the opening track on their new album of the same name (to be released via SO Recordings on 24 February, 2023). Opening with some ’80s-inspired synths and a rhythm section that reminds us of…
Cross-Atlantic duo Born Fighters return with new single ‘Need a Friend’. Inspired by Luke Barham’s love of ’90s jangly indie pop and LA resident Peter Maffel’s sunny surroundings, the song is a wistful ode to companionship with its repeated message of ‘When you’re lost, you need a friend’ and its plea for the subject to…
James Smith – one of the hardest working musicians and label owners we know – returns with a new album under his Good Good Blood moniker. ‘Celebrate’ is a mammoth collection of 18 songs with observations on life, death and everything in-between at their core… The record opens in typically understated fashion on ‘7.47am (Eyes…
Based in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Snow Coats have already played shows with Ratboys, Future Teens and Sea Girls and are now ready to share their second album, ‘If it wasn’t me, I would’ve called it funny’. Led by Anouk van der Kemp, the record documents her experiences in life with love, loss and trying to…
Bright Eyes are finally getting to tour their 2020 ‘Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was’ album and arrived in England’s capital city ahead of a headline slot at the prestigious End of the Road festival. Following stellar support from Penelope Isles, the Nebraska band appeared on stage at the Apollo – complete…
Fresh off the back of a support slot to Wet Leg, Fontaines DC and The Strokes, Speedy Wunderground’s The Lounge Society share their debut album ‘Tired of Liberty’. Produced by the label’s Dan Carey, this record finds the young West Yorkshire band trying to make sense of a divisive world and championing those who are…
Describing themselves as ‘a noisy pop band desperately clinging on to the ghosts of 2009’, adults have now signed to Fika Recordings and shared new single ‘things we achieve’ ahead of the release of debut album ‘for everything, always’ in October. The song takes aim at capitalism and how its inherent evilness ‘makes us forget…
New York-via-Texas alt-poppers Why Bonnie follow up 2020’s ‘Voice Box’ EP with debut album ’90 in November’. Now signed to Keeled Scales and recorded in the band’s hometown, the album finds Blair Howerton examining the pains and pleasures of modern life against a musical backdrop influenced by artists as diverse as Sparklehorse, Sheryl Crow and…
Described by the band as ‘Our love letter to the city of Hull’, Life’s third album, appropriately titled ‘North East Coastal Town’, finds Merrick (Mez) Sanders-Green and his bandmates examining how much of an impact and influence – both positive and negative – your surroundings have on you as an individual: ‘Originally, you want to…
Spielbergs’ debut album ‘This Is Not the End’ was praised by artists ranging from Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil to Jimmy Eat World’s Jimmy Adkins and press outlets including NME, Pitchfork and Kerrang! Now, the Norwegian trio have signed to Big Scary Monsters and are getting set to release new album ‘Vestli’ – an album that…
Sub Pop signings Kiwi Jr. follow up ‘Cooler Returns’ with ‘Chopper’, a new album that again finds the Toronto quartet exploring a more sonic sound – with more synths than ever before – as Jeremy Gaudt discusses everything from living in the digital age to the constant spector of death and the joy, hilarity and…
Wisconsin indie rockers Disq have shared new single ‘Cujo Kiddies’ ahead of the release of album ‘Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet’. The follow-up to 2020’s should-have-been-massive ‘Collector’, the new album finds the band expanding their sound and heading in new directions. For this single, bassist/songwriter/vocalist Raina Bock claims: ‘I wanted to make a song that sounded…
Spectral Nights - alternative music, indie music, music reviews, new music, music blog 