Human Pyramids – ‘Thank You’ album review


Composer/producer Paul Russell (Axes/Tough Glove) returns with ‘Thank You’, the fourth album to be released by his Human Pyramids project. Featuring members of Axes, Suicide Bid and Modern Studies, the album was recorded all over the world and mastered by Alan Douches (Sufjan Stevens/Animal Collective). Gentle feedback and breezy, chiming percussion combine in the early…

Great Grandpa – ‘Junior’


Great Grandpa have shared ‘Junior’ ahead of the release of new album ‘Patience, Moonbeam’ on 28 March via Run For Cover Records. The new album will be the five-piece’s first album since the stunning ‘Four of Arrows’ in 2019 and follows a period of personal and professional upheaval for all the band members. ‘Junior’ is…

Top 5 albums to look forward to in 2025


The start of a New Year is always one of excitement and there’s already plenty to look forward to in 2025. Will the Oasis tour be worthy of the hype (and increased ticket prices)? Will the pop stars continue to reign supreme? What will follow ‘Brat Summer’? And will Neil Young continue to flip-flop on…

Top 5 albums of 2024


It’s that time of year again. Yes, the Spectral Nights Top 5 albums of the past 12 months. There have been some exciting new releases and long-awaited returns in 2024. Now it’s time to celebrate some of our favourites. As always, it’s important to note music is not a competition hence we’re hesitant to use…

Top 5 Live Performances of 2024


We don’t get to as many gigs now we’ve hit middle age and have a child to look after, but this just makes the ones we do get my to all the more special (and a million thank you’s to our ever-supportive families). Here are the Top 5 performances – in no particular order –…

Cheekface – ‘Hard Mode’


Cheekface share ‘Hard Mode’ ahead of an extensive US tour in early 2025. Vocalist and guitarist Greg Katz said the song is ‘About growth and how fucking awkward it is, and it’s about growth’s younger sibling self-awareness, which is not the same as growth and twice as awkward’. Looking at how we all like to…

Frog – ‘Did Santa Come’


Inspired by Daniel Bateman’s toddler’s constant question of ‘Did Santa come?’ in the build-up to Christmas (Daniel says ‘Seeing the world through the eyes of your children makes it all very beautiful’ and we have to concur, our 3-year-old is very excited this year), Frog release a song of the same name ahead of the…

Regal Cheer – ‘All the Best’


Following shows with Tigers Jaw, Martha and Fresh, Brighton duo Regal Cheer have shared new single ‘All the Best’. The fast-paced Bronx-esque song is about how sometimes a situation – could be a relationship or working environment – isn’t working for anyone and it’s best just to part ways on good terms: ‘Whatever happened, I…