Spector shake things up with surprise new single ‘Country Boy’

After the announcement that their highly anticipated third album ‘Now Or Whenever’ will be released later than expected, Spector spring their new single ‘Country Boy’ out into the ether as a gift to their patient fans.

Following on from their previous string of fiercely successful releases including ‘Non- Fiction’ and ‘Enjoy It While It Lasts’, it’s safe to say that the London-based four-piece have made quite the impression in the alternative music scene. 

Since appearing on Radio 1 with Huw Stephens in 2011, the band have seen an undeniable increase in their popularity, performing at festivals including Coachella and Reading and Leeds.

The steady diversification of their sound over the years paired with the growth reflected in their lyrical content is undeniable and has clearly paid off for the group. As a band that discuss subject matter that we can all connect to, ‘Country Boy’ is yet another raw and unapologetically human offering, expressing their softer and more reflective side.

 

The track ebbs and flows in and out of thought-provoking lyricism and euphoric drawn-out guitar riffs. The instrumentals of the track are imbued with an underlying sense of unity and a collective understanding found within lyrics such as: “Maybe our twenties went on too long” and “So you don’t think too much / Cause when you do, all bets are off.”  With Frederick Macpherson evoking a more upbeat Nick Cave, the frontman immediately creates a foundation of easy understanding for listeners as he reflects on topics such as the changing of the seasons and the effects that our relationships can have on our actions.

 

Not making an appearance on ‘Now or Never’, the lead singer offered some general comments about the track, describing the single in a press release as “Acting as a coda to the album.” He refers to the track as “A mini epic torn between glam and glum”, indicative of the comfort and safety we seek out of human connection.

 

He admits: “Lyrically, it deals in the doom we feel more comfortable discussing with strangers, during the desperate conversations which only rear their heads when the (Wetherspoons) bell finally tolls.” This is clearly signposted when Frederick sings: “I’ll save you from tomorrow / You saved me from tonight”, creating a palpable sense of melancholic hope.

 

Ultimately, ‘Country Boy’ is a track that allows us to reflect on the fact that we all seek out human connection sometimes, and maybe we deserve to discuss our anxieties and worries a little more openly with one another.

 

Felicity Giles

@flickg

Image: Spector ‘Country Boy’ Official Single Cover