A stand-up guy and a lover of 'slush-based' beverages...
The last couple of years have been something of a boom-time in the garage-rock-one-man-band market. Wavves did the whole Weezer-meets-Shellac beach punk thing, Blank Dogs pumped out brooding, krautrock-influenced indie haze and Dum Dum Girls blended The Doors with The Crystals. Looking through the list, you’ll notice that 1) all these people live in America and 2) come from what are considered to be fairly hip scenes at the moment, so it’s perhaps surprising that the only guy who's managed to blend all these influences into a cohesive and inventive whole has been a quiet, unassuming dude from rainy old Yorkshire.
From the summertime disposition of his music, most people would reckon that Spectrals at least had some picturesque beach or mountain to stare at, but alas, that’s just not the case. The brainchild of a bloke called Louis, from Heckmondwike, a fairly quaint little hill town tucked between Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds, it’s strange to think that some of 2010’s most sun-drenched music comes from a place as boring and sleepy as anywhere in England. But hey, that’s what you get when you’ve been raised on a diet of ‘60s and ‘70s soul records, Motown and doo-wop.
In fact, despite the experimental aspect of his music, Spectrals’ influences are fairly straightforward. Listing people such as Phil Spector (hence the name), Diana Ross and The Supremes, and The Isley Brothers alongside the obligatory nods to garage rock is a piece of glaring British understatement that in no way prepares you for the hazy dream world of tape-hiss, ghostly half-heard melodies and hauntingly echoing drums you’re treated to whenever you throw one of Louis’ records on. Actually, it’s easy to imagine that his sound owes way more to Sonic Youth than it does the Shangri-Las.
Spectrals - 7th Date by 97dmcevoy
Having already released stuff on pretty much every cool-as-hell indie label you could mention (Captured Tracks, Suplex and Tough Love to name a few) Spectrals were finally snapped up by Moshi Moshi in the tail end of 2010. There’s been no full-length as of yet, and whilst they’re lacking in the ramshackleness of his early bedroom recordings, the two EPs he put out during September and October have been a tour de force in how to make psych-pop.
Already planning to kick off 2011 with shows all over the UK, expect to hear a lot more from this guy...
So Leeds is as about as far away from the sea as it’s possible to get – e ver get sick of all the surf references?
Louis: Ha ha, yeah, sometimes. I like surf rock a lot but it’s hardly the only the type of music I listen to. I think Spectrals have quite a lot of rock and soul influences, but nobody ever seems to pick up on them. It’s weird.
Well if it’s not surf, what kind of stuff influences your music?
Well, it varies from time to time, but I’m dead into Scott Walker and grew up listening to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Jerry Vale is probably the best singer ever.
So, I heard that you do pretty much everything in the band except play the drums?
Yeah, my little brother plays the drums...
How come?
Just because he’s loads better than me. He’s not really into the same music as I am, but he’s never tried to force his opinion on me.
He plays in the touring band, right? Does it ever get weird being in a band with your brother?
Nah, not really. We get on really well now so there’s never been a problem. In fact, sometimes it’s actually quite nice. We played in London the other day and there was loads of quite strange people at the gig, so it was cool to have a familiar face I could talk to.
You’ve played what feels like hundreds of gigs this year – who’s been your favourite person to play with?
I’ve been pretty lucky this year, as everyone we’ve been on the road with has been really cool. That means it’s quite hard to pick just one, but we just finished a UK tour with Best Coast, and they were well sound.
You had quite an aura of mystery about you at the beginning of the year – what’s the weirdest rumour you’ve heard about yourself?
Ermmm, well it has to be the whole Mick Hucknall thing...
What’s that?
Well, I’d be at some gigs and I’d overhear people reckoning that I was copying Mick Hucknall because I’ve got red hair. It was weird.
Ouch.
Yeah, I know. I don’t get it either...
Spectrals have a few shows around the UK in January, and should be returning to London pretty soon. Check out Moshi Moshi's website for more details.
http://www.myspace.com/spectralspectral.
Want more tips for 2011? Why not check out Mazes.
Click here for more London Live Music
Click here for all London Indie Music
Add an event
Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...