Former Now, Now member Jess Abbott’s Tancred project have released ‘Reviews’, the first single from new album ‘Nightstand’. With crystal-clear guitar hooks indicating the beginning of its 3 minutes, the emo-tinged song offers a tantalising combination of melodic Postal Service pop hooks, handclaps and personal lyrics: ‘It takes highs and lows to celebrate you’; ‘They…
Manchester band The Maple State release their first new material in almost a decade with new album ‘The Things I Heard at the Party’ (via Far Out Records). In the band’s hiatus, the members have found themselves spread across the globe and worked in industries ranging from universities to wildlife conservation and environmental projects. But…
Audio Antihero Records’ Cloud (or Tyler Taormina to his friends and family) makes a welcome return with ‘Plays with Fire’ – a 32-minute album drenched in hope and nostalgia. A loud burst of feedback signals the start of the opener ‘Happer’s Laugh’; a song full of acoustic strums and white noise effects that evolves into…
Everything Everything have released a surprise EP just before their biggest ever UK and Ireland tour. It includes two new tracks, a cover of Neil Young’s ‘Don’t Let It Bring You Down’ and a Tom Vek remix of ‘Ivory Tower. The video for ‘Breadwinner’ features a Lawnmower Man-style rendering of EE frontman Jonathan Higgs dancing…
The Districts – ‘Nighttime Girls’ In this “song about the allure of escapism and a character’s general preoccupation with shallowness and neon light”, The Districts are in alluring form. It opens with a burst of rousing drums before the Grizzly Bear-style guitar hooks and distorted vocals join the fray. A song that will appeal to…
On ‘Nunhead’, the opening track on Happy Accidents second album, guitarist Rich is talking about meeting by a cemetery in an attempt to block out the noise – both physically and mentally – and the song has a deliciously lo-fi vibe with its Casio keyboard effects, Lemonheads riffs and big bass sound. It’s a fine…
Fairhazel – ‘7×7’ Inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead, ‘7×7’ finds Fairhazel singing about breaking free and discovering further humanity. The former Boston Berklee College of Music student takes influences from a diverse range of genres, experiences and locations and this is captured in the fantastical introduction to this song. The subtle electronics…
Following a busy 2017 (including a 10-gigs-in-one-day jaunt to raise money for the Forward 4 Wiz Trust) and ahead of a short European tour with Parachute for Gordo, Spectral Nights favourite and regular contributor Joe Booley has unveiled ‘Movements III’ – the first track from his upcoming ‘Movements’ EP. Coming out on cassette and 12″…
Bad News Club is the latest signing to the prestigious paradYse Records (Marika Hackman and Spring King have also featured on their roster) and ‘The Painter’ is a stunning introduction to his heartfelt and intimate work. This is the very first take of the acoustic song, recorded onto an iPhone, and it has a lo-fi…
Reading’s incredible Are You Listening? Festival 2018 has now added Field Music, Warm Digits and Spectral Nights favourites Carnival Youth to its line-up. Taking place in various venues throughout the city on Saturday 28 April, the event (in aid of Reading Mencap) will also see performances from Idles, Her’s, AK/DK and the fantastically named Have…
Spectral Nights - alternative music, indie music, music reviews, new music, music blog 