Spectral Nights’ Top 5 albums of 2024
It’s that time of year again. Yes, the Spectral Nights Top 5 albums of the past 12 months. There have been some exciting new releases and long-awaited returns in 2024. Now it’s time to celebrate some of our favourites.
As always, it’s important to note music is not a competition hence we’re hesitant to use the word ‘best’. Having said that, we have enjoyed these next five albums an awful lot.
Los Campesinos! – ‘All Hell’
Los Campesinos!’ first album in seven years was well worth the wait. Self-recorded and produced, it combines the trademark Los Camp lyrics about fate, football and fucking with some of their finest and most tender/abrasive melodies. Kim’s moment ‘Kms’ is a sweet restbite while ‘A Psychic Wound’, Paul Heaton-referencing ‘0898 Heartache’ and ‘To Hell in a Handjob’ are all huge moments from one of our finest bands.
Read our review of Los Campesinos! at 2000trees Festival 2024.
Bill Ryder-Jones – ‘lechyd Da’
Bill Ryder-Jones is one of those artists where you can’t help but get drawn into his evocative storytelling. ‘lechyd Da’ (the Welsh term for ‘cheers’ or ‘to your health’) is no exception with songs both dripping in sincerity and bombast sitting neatly alongside each other. There’s grandiose orchestral moments, unforgettable melodies, children’s choirs and some powerful words.
Read our post about ‘This Can’t Go On’ by Bill Ryder-Jones.
English Teacher – ‘This Could Be Texas’
English Teacher have won so many accolades this year, and things look set to get even bigger in 2025 with a host of major festival appearances. Their debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ was a fully realised slab of arty indie rock with honest lyrics, hooks that swerve and spin around your head and some damn fine wordplay – whether it was referencing fellow Yorkshire legends Pulp on ‘Broken Biscuits’ (it sounds like Life Without Buildings going baroque) or the most appealing pronunciation of ‘daffodil’ on ‘Nearly Daffodils’.
Read our post about ‘Albert Road’ by English Teacher.
Foxing – ‘Foxing’
Fixing’s self-titled, self-produced and self-released fifth album was the sound of a band stretching themselves to make uncompromising, challenging and potent art rock that keeps you guessing – and eager to listen again and again. From the eight-minute art rock squelch of ‘Greyhound’ to the nu-metal stylings of ‘Hell 99’ and Phoenix-esque sound of ‘Barking’, there was so much joy to be found in the experimental emo-pop leanings.
Read our review of ‘Foxing’ by Foxing.
Haley Heynderickx – ‘Seed of a Seed’
It has been six years since Haley Heynderickx released her debut album ‘I Need to Start a Garden’ – with ‘Oom Sha La La’ now fully confirmed as a cult classic. Second album ‘Seed of a Seed’ found Haley looking at the world as it is now with a fully relatable weariness – ‘I’m addicted to my phone’ – and celebrating the simple joys that we should all show more appreciation towards: friendship, nature and dreams.
Read our review of ‘Seed of a Seed’ by Haley Heynderickx.
What were your favorite albums of 2024?
