Nu Rave Brain Wave

Spectrals aka Louis Jones, is a ginger man from Heckmondwike, Leeds. Let us not forget that we’ve been loving this dude’s crazy amazing 50s/60s jams for months and months and it’s finally paid off. After the release of his recent 7″ Peppermint, he’s bringing out the Spectrals Extended Play via Moshi Moshi. It came out a couple days ago, October 12th, digitally and will see the light of day beautifully, I’m sure, and physically in January 2011. I still haven’t given this the proper million listens it deserves (too much music, too little time) but you need to check out a cut from the EP. It’s as awesome and woozy and A+ as you can imagine.

Track Listing ::
Spectrals – Spectrals Extended Play
1. Dip Your Toe In
2. Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile)
3. Peppermint
4. Put Your Crystal Ball Away
5. 7th Date
6. I Ran With Love But I Couldn’t Keep Up
7. Bonus Jam

Spectrals, along with NRBW favorites Sex Beet are going to be supporting California’s Best Coast on their November UK Tour. Check them out or die at the following dates:

29 Nov 2010 Ruby Lounge w/ BEST COAST & SPECTRALS Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM
30 Nov 2010 Glee Club w/ BEST COAST & SPECTRALS BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM
1 Dec 2010 The Scala w/ BEST COAST & SPECTRALS LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

mp3 | Spectrals - Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile)

Spectrals: ‘Peppermint’ from TLOBF.COM on Vimeo.

One of our favorite UK bands (one of few, England, step that shit up) Spectrals is just about ready to release his debut album, interestingly titled Extended Player coming to you via Moshi Moshi on October 10th. Off his album, and aptly, his new single ‘Peppermint’ is pretty out of this world – this little ginger Northerner can really do no wrong in my book with his always-pleasing, never-irritating throwback jams. Check it out, I’m pretty sure he’s my number one tip for 2011 (and by the way, the fuck??!? How is it almost 2011?).

mp3 | Spectrals - Leave Me Be

Although I’ve never been to Wales, and I’ve been told to stay the fuck outta Cardiff, the SWN Festival seems to be tempting me in the opposite direction. They’ve announced their partial lineup for the bash which happens on October 21, 22, and 23rd in the heart of Cardiff. As I said, I’m considering this shit mainly because they’ve got my favorite band of the moment, HAPPY BIRTHDAY playing, which will surely be a highlight of the festival. Check it out below and buy tix which, you can decide between getting a 3-day stroller wristband for £45, a Saturday one for £25, a Friday one for £15 and a Thursday wristband from £10.

LINE UP
# Al Lewis
# Among Brothers
# Arabrot
# Attack + Defend
# Bellini
# Brandyman
# Bryn Fon a`r Band
# Circa Regna Tonat
# Colorama
# Crash.Disco!
# Drains
# Egyptian Hip Hop
# Evening Chorus
# Fiction
# Happy Birthday
# Huw M
# Joe Worricker
# John Mouse
# Kutosis
# Melys
# Mitchell Museum
# Paul Heaton
# Perfume Genius
# Right Hand Left Hand
# Samoans
# Spectrals
# Standard Fare
# Sun Drums
# Swans
# T3ETH
# The Ex
# The Gentle Good
# The Keys
# The Last Republic
# Tom Williams & The Boat
# Truckers of Husk
# Violas
# WE//ARE//ANIMAL
# Wickes
# Y Niwl
# Young Rebel Set

mp3 | Happy Birthday - 2 Shy
mp3 | Spectrals - Leave Me Be

My current obsession with the flat out genius that is Louis Jones aka Spectrals is only set to grow over time. Spectrals are planning their “debut” EP release, and have given it the ultra-special name ‘Spectrals Extended Play’ which will feature seven songs, both new and previously released, out through Moshi Moshi on October 10th.

The tracklisting for ‘Spectrals Extended Play’ is:

1. Dip Your Toe In
2. Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile)
3. Peppermint
4. Put Your Crystal Ball Away
5. 7th Date
6. I Ran With Love But Couldn’t Keep Up
7. Bonus Jam

Spectrals is also a superstar live, encompassing all that I love about the 50s into a wonderfully modern package that spits all over chillwave anyday. Louis maintains the elegance of his songs live while making everything seem incredibly intimate. Don’t miss him. Just one question, though, Louis, will this push back the release date of LP debut, ‘Bad Penny’?

AUGUST
23 London Hoxton Bar and Kitchen (w/ Harlem)
24 London Cargo (w/ Avi Buffalo)

SEPTEMBER
10 London Cargo (w/ Les Savy Fav)

OCTOBER
8 Leeds Nation of Shopkeepers (w/ Blank Dogs)
15 Manchester Band on the Wall (w/ Yuck)
23 Cardiff SWN Festival

mp3 | Spectrals - Leave Me Be

July has been an interesting month… Lots of new tunes that have taken over my stereo, a couple old classics, a fantastic cover courtesy of the Sopranos, and some newly rediscovered songs from excellent bands.

01 Amanaz – Khala My Friend
02 Spectrals – Leave Me Be
03 exlovers – You Forget So Easily
04 Bob Dylan – Return To Me
05 Mind Spiders – Worlds Destroyed
06 Wanda Jackson – Funnel of Love
07 Happy Birthday – 2 Shy
08 Slow Animal – the FUNsun
09 Son of Rams – Triple Eyed
10 Shimmering Stars – I’m Gonna Try
11 Woven Bones – Wanna Tell Ya (Insound Session)
12 Black Lips – Best Napkin I Ever Had

mp3 | Nu Rave Brain Wave’s July 2010 Mix

Well, yesterday I got my wisdom teeth out. After a whole lot of fighting, attempting to get my heart rate down so low they couldn’t do it (got it down to 41! mind over body, ftw!) I finally had it done. I’ve been sitting at home with an icepack stuck to my face, guzzling vicodin like it’s my job and attempting to eat soup – so naturally I made a playlist. These are songs I’ve been obsessed with lately, and you’re gonna love ‘em. Fact.

01 Come Down Easy (Demo) | Spaceman 3
02 Wanna Tell You | Woven Bones
03 Leave Me Be | Spectrals
04 Il Fait Beau | My Pet Saddle
05 Don’t Think Twice (Messengers Remix) | J.Period and K’Naan
06 Perverted Girl | Happy Birthday
07 Subliminal Message | Happy Birthday
08 Stone Fox | King Tuff
09 Freak When I’m Dead | King Tuff
10  Dreamboat | Hey Sholay

mp3 | Lost My Wisdom – A Summer Mix

God, I love Spectrals. I thank my lucky stars that I went to see Girls that one fateful night in February so I could be introduced to one of the top 3 best new bands in England right now. I know that’s a massive statement but I honestly think it’s true. The band announced their debut single for Slumberland Records entitled “7th Date”. Everything Spectrals does has a breezy, careless attitude which belies the practically perfect songwriting, the careful nods backwards (50s do-wop, Phil Specter), and his ability to hook you into a song almost instantly. Like I’ve said again and again, I dunno how this Northern Lad, “L”, does this shit (he’s a ginger and everything!) and manages to make his music so warm and beautiful and sunny and, god, if I didn’t know better, I’d say Californian. He is the antithesis of every English buzzband, there’s nothing kitchy, dancey (well, you know what I mean), female fronted shitty pop, or annoying about Spectrals and dear god, I hope it stays that way – the kid deserves to be appreciated for what he’s doing out of his (presumably) frigid Northern bedroom and not blown up and put on the cover of NME. That’s all.

Side A | 7th Date
Side B | Don\'t Mind

Buy this excellent single on minty green vinyl from Slumberland here.

Photo Courtesy of | Wayne Fox

We’ve been going on about Spectrals for quite some time over here, ever since we saw them win over the crowd and kind of show up Girls back in February in Brighton. I love their paradoxical sound (well, compared to their geographical location) – there’s just no way that dudes from Leeds know how to sound so bright, sunny and distinctly Californian – but by god, they do. Spectrals new single ’7th Date’ will be released through Slumberland (yes, we love them too) on the 6th of July (they couldn’t have waited until the 7th?) with the b/side ‘Don’t Mind’. You’ll be silly to not see this band and check them out because as I’ve been saying for months and months, great things are awaiting them. Stream the track through soundcloud below, and pick it up ASAP after the 6th of July, and attempt to see them around the UK at the gigs below…

SPECTRALS // 7th Date by TheArtOf…

JULY
04 Mono Festival
09 Lounge On The Farm
17 Cargo London
18 Latitude Festival
24 1-2-3-4 Festival

mp3 | Spectrals - Keep Your Magic Out of My House

I discovered Spectrals not too long ago opening up for Girls at Audio here in Brighton. I listened to their myspace and was pretty into it, but live they were just spectacular – they completely outshined Girls which as you know probably doesn’t happen too often. And I’m super glad I saw them because I had been looking for the kind of summery, Sunday pop that I’ve come to expect from California and didn’t really think the British would do that as well (and hes, gasp, Northern!) but Spectrals has a place in the library of anybody who likes Best Coast, Wavves, or the Growlers. Spectrals have a dexterity in the musicality of the songs that outdoes BC or Wavves, and the bright, sunny, almost syrupy feel of the recordings belie the deftness of Spectrals song-writing. These songs instantly became my favorites of possibly any British band of the year – it’s enough to brighten even the saddest, greyest Brighton day. Although Spectrals is technically just one dude recording in his bedroom, their live show is filled out with his band, which I happen to think is an excellent move. The fleshed out versions of songs are even more infused with the essence of summer and sunshine and head-bopping goodness. Definitely catch this band – I know they are the darkhorse to blow up in 2010.

DOWLOAD -> Spectrals - Keep Your Magic Out of My House

The Great Escape Festival runs in venues all over Brighton on May 13th, 14th, and 15th. Buy your tickets here.

OTHER BANDS WE RECOMMEND YOU SEE: Best Coast, King Charles, Fionn Regan, Avi Buffalo, These New Puritans, Lyrebirds, and Levi’s Ones to Watch.

Okay, I’ve been on the troll for something, anything to remind me of Californ-i-aa in this grey, shit filled country I’ve lovingly come to inhabit and come up depressingly empty-handed. Then, the other day, I was heading down to Audio to see Girls and got there in time to see the opener, SPECTRALS. Who I LOVED. Although they performed with a full-band on the night, apparently, it’s kind of a one man show garage rock style. The beauty of it all was how warm and encompassing was – and this dude is from further up in the UK than I am, which amazed me. It was just really bright and enjoyable and most importantly – FUN and didn’t take itself all that seriously, although perhaps it should because the show was AWESOME. It’s short, to the point, got simple beats to drive the reverb and WONDERFUL. The show kept reminded me of things that I love (beach, sun, Surfer Blood, other similar bands) and I actually left the show proclaiming that I’d indeed found the UK’s counterpoint to the best band in the world, The Growlers – which if you ever read this blog, you’ll know that’s fucking high ass praise. If you like anything I’ve been pushing as of late: Wavves, Dum Dum Girls, Eternal Summers, Best Coast, THE GROWLERS – then this will be right up your alley.

DOWNLOAD -> Spectrals – Keep Your Magic