Spector

Drawing from the early-2000s garage rock of the Strokes, the new romantic sounds of Roxy Music, and the anthemic indie pop of the Killers, the sharp-suited London five-piece Spector arrived in 2011 and were positioned as one of the flagging U.K. guitar band scene’s final major prospects. Ex-MTV presenter Fred Macpherson, who had previously fronted indie also-rans Les Incompetents and proggy doom merchants Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man., teamed with guitarist Christopher Burman, another alumnus of the former group, to establish the band; bassist Thomas Shickle, keyboardist Jed Cullen, and drummer Danny Blandy later completed the roster. After developing their material at an East London snooker club, they began playing shows across the capital’s live circuit. Initially called Spectre, in reference to the terrorist organization in the James Bond films, they adjusted the spelling to honor the maverick producer once they discovered the original name was already taken. Following the release of their debut single Never Fade Away, they signed with Fiction Records, performed on the Introducing Stage at the Reading/Leeds Festival, supported Kaiser Chiefs on their U.K. tour, and earned their first mainstream exposure on Later...with Jools Holland. In 2012 they were short-listed for the prestigious BBC Sound Of... poll, toured with Florence + the Machine, and recorded their debut album, scheduled for release later in the year.