Introducing… Spector

Introducing... — By Louis Bebb on 26/01/12

“We’re a pop group. Like One Direction or The Beatles…” Fred Macpherson – Spector.

With the synth indie-pop sound of a band somewhere in between Pulp and Arcade Fire you would expect a perfect recipe for success. This is almost what you get with alternative hopefuls Spector.

Fronted by Fred Macpherson (who previously featured in Les Incompetents and Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man. ) and battle-hardened by honing their skills in an East London snooker club they signed to Luv Luv Luv Records, released 3 singles and were nominated for the BBC Sound of 2011 award. Not what you would call a bad year then.

New single Chevy Thunder neatly sums up what they are about: big drums, skyline synths and plenty of “woah-woahs”. Debut single Never Fade Away has obvious suggestions of an indie ballad and contains simple but politely sweet lyrics when MacPherson tells his lover “you know i’ll never fade away, but if I do, it will be because you asked me to”. Again, the instrumentation is set to skyscraper levels of hugeness. Subtlety isn’t something Spector aim for.

What they do aim for, and regularly hit, is the part of the brain that thoroughly enjoys it when great pop songs are disguised under thick layers of real instruments. The band is blossoming with talent.

Their ambition is scary too, with MacPherson recently tweeting at his dissatisfaction of being brought into the ‘guitar music is dead’ debate by claiming “we’re a pop group like One Direction and The Beatles”. Their choruses could certainly rival those of 1D.

With their debut album due for release this year it looks like it should be an exciting and enjoyable year for newcomers Spector.

SPECTOR