Louis Jones of Spectrals seems almost unable to stop his creative outpour, releasing a handful of singles over the past couple of years as well as an EP. It seems slightly odd that we are only just discussing his debut album considering the amount of work he has already had released. Despite this, it is clear that a high amount of devotion and attention has been given to the eleven tracks on Bad Penny, which softly glide and swoon their way out of the speakers resonating somewhere between carefree optimism and heart-wrenching sadness.
Unlike the early Spector inspired '60s doo-wop that made up the early releases from Spectrals, the overbearing sound on Bad Penny is a cross between the grandiosity of Scott Walker and the more soulful elements of Elvis Costello. Jones’s croon is constant throughout as he forlornly muses over his lost relationship, which is the theme of the album. The opening line of ‘Get a Grip’ sets the tone for the record as Jones wails - “I need to get a grip/ I always seem to let my smile slip”. This said, the album is not a bleak affair and does not exhaust the listener with depressing lines about love and loss, as Jones’s wry humour shines through. On ‘Lockjaw’ Jones warbles insecurely, “We can’t kiss as you’ve got lockjaw, though I can’t be sure,” making the constant comparison to Alex Turner quite justifiable. The sparkling guitar lines and sing along choruses on tracks such as ‘Many Happy Returns’ and ‘Confetti’ are plentiful throughout the record, especially on the foot-stomping ‘Big Baby’. Containing a sparkling guitar riff and a relentlessly driven drum rhythm, the song is only momentarily interrupted by its chorus on which Jones sings, “I’m a big baby, 'cus girl that’s what you made me,” a line which can perhaps summarise the effect that Jones’s relationship has had on him.
Bad Penny drips with nostalgia, drenched in a cluster of shimmering guitar lines and softly crooned wit, bringing to mind fellow Yorkshire man Richard Hawley. The record falls down slightly on the repetition of the well-worn sound that makes up the album, lacking slightly in originality in that respect. It is however, an impressive debut from Sepctrals whose talent as a lyricist and musician makes an exciting prospect to think of what the future holds for Jones and co.