Spector’s Moth Boys promises continuation of sound
It’s been nearly three years since London-based indie rock band, Spector, released its debut album. All truly great things come with time, and Spector’s sophomore album Moth Boys, produced by British music label Fiction Records, is no exception. Available for download on iTunes today, Moth Boys is a bold step forward for an emerging band holding its own among the U.K.’s latest batch of budding talent. Spector’s new album features punchy yet reverberating vocals from lead man Frederick MacPherson lined crisply with sophisticated synthesizer backdrops.
The newest album frequently touches on the ever-growing complexities of the modern dating scene and effortlessly captures the sympathies of millennials. The first track on the album is titled “All The Sad Young Men” and begins as a reflection on fast-paced life. Memorable lines from the album’s introductory track include, “These girls like to pretend they can’t feel anything anymore /boys break like promises / but only behind closed doors” and peaks with a bombastic chorus echoing, “I don’t wanna make love / I don’t wanna make plans.” Though the introduction track sets the tone for Spector’s second album, “All The Sad Young Men” is not the most impressive track on Moth Boys.
“Believe,” however, is the best example of Spector’s unique, synthesizer-heavy sound. Though Spector may not be appreciated by all crowds, “Believe” is bound to become an anthem for those in indie rock circles. Spector uses soaring choruses throughout the album paired with melodic vocals that are reminiscent of 1980s pop. The album concludes with the punctuating track “Lately It’s You,” which is equal parts explosive and tragic. This swan song closes on a wild guitar solo that six-string enthusiasts will surely appreciate.
Where Spector excels in Moth Boys is in their allusion to the qualms of the new millennial in their lyrics. The sophomore release provides several memorable and relatable vignettes about modern relationships. Drummer Danny Blandy will likely go unappreciated but he does a superb job on the drums and certainly proves his value in this second album. What Moth Boys lacks is versatility and range. Though the lyrics are animated enough to wash out the never-ending background synthesizers in Moth Boys, it’s hard not to notice throughout the album. Then again, that resonates with their ’80s pop style.
That being said, fans and casual listeners alike will enjoy hearing the indie rock band live during Spector’s U.K. tour beginning on Oct. 13, following the release of Moth Boys. Notable tour dates include stops in Reading, Glasgow and Leeds, all before playing their final show in London on Oct. 29.
The airy starscapes that Spector creates for its listeners are perfect for any back-to-school playlist. One listen through Spector’s album and people might wonder why Spector has yet to make it big. Give it some more time. Moth Boys took three years to conceive before being released from its cocoon. Guardian has even ventured to mention Spector as an act “somewhere between Roxy Music and the Strokes, the Killers and Kanye West, Pulp and R&B and Frank Sinatra.” For eclectic combination sounds, look no further than Moth Boys.