Spectrals

Originating from Heckmondwike in West Yorkshire, Louis Jones operated solo under the Spectrals moniker, crafting reverb-drenched, off-kilter blends of 1960s doo wop, Brill Building pop, and reticent garage rock that frequently incorporated hazy surf-guitar flourishes. His debut 7-inch, “Leave Me Be,” appeared on Captured Tracks in 2009. In the first months of 2010 he paired with Fair Ohs for a split on Tough Love and with Mazes for another on Love Is Disgusting, each containing a pair of his tracks. Later that year Slumberland entered the picture, issuing the colored 7-inch “7th Date” that June. Although Jones handled nearly all recording himself—with his younger brother supplying drums—he assembled a touring ensemble and logged extensive road time, including dates alongside Girls. His debut full-length, Bad Penny, surfaced in late 2011 via Slumberland in the United States and Wichita in the United Kingdom; the same sibling handled drumming while veteran British producer Richard Formby oversaw the sessions. The follow-up album under the Spectrals name retained the brother’s drumming yet introduced additional musicians and enlisted ex-Girls member Chet “JR” White for production duties; Slumberland released Sob Story in early summer 2013.