Spygenius: Spygenius Blow Their Covers

The members of English pop quartet Spygenius decided to pay tribute to the music they grew up with on their new album Spygenius Blow Their Covers. It's not a stop gap release while they contemplate their next move after the superb Man On The Sea (HCTF's album of the year in 2020), but more like a dive into the rabbit hole and resurfacing with a wealth of unexpected gems, like the sea-shanty Murrumbidgee Whalers and Griselda by American folkies Michael Hurley and The Unholy Modal Rounders.

By kicking off with the Traffic / Monkees medley Paper Sun / Love Is Only Sleeping it is crystal clear that is no ordinary set of reimagined songs. Coupling a hallowed debut single with prefabricated pop that was snubbed by the connoisseurs back in the day is a bold move and to rub it in they included another Monkees cover, For Pete's Sake. Spygenius are first and foremost a band that is focused on the melody with a touch of melancholy, so it makes sense that they tackled Is That Love by New Wave band Squeeze and Michael Caine by ska maestros Madness.

Spygenius Blow Their Covers is a labor of love, a tribute to the sound of more innocent times. Nostalgia is a means of escapism, but it also a means to deal with the current shit state of the world. Not a cure or a solution, but it will make the listener feel better for sure.

Spygenius:
Peter Watts: vocals, guitar
Ruth Rogers: bass
Matt Byrne: keyboards
Alan Cannings: drums