Founded in 2012 by Marieke Hutsebaut, The Spectors’ demos soon caught the ear of Chris Urbanowicz, formerly of Editors. Chris produced the Belgians’ self-titled debut EP (2014) and full album Light Stays Close (2015). Two singles, Nico (about the Velvet Underground chanteuse) and Dig, spent a combined 14 weeks in De Afrekening, Studio Brussel’s trendsetting alternative chart. 


The band went on to perform at various indie festivals, including Dour, Pukkelpop and Leffingeleuren, and were hand-picked by Kevin Shields to support My Bloody Valentine in the hallowed grounds of the capital’s Ancienne Belgique. 


After a particularly busy Summer, with the other band members eager to strike out on their own, Marieke decided to put The Spectors on hold. Looking to the future, she started writing material for a new album and experimenting with different line-ups, in the end settling on a return to dreampop basics and a quartet. 


Material for the second LP OOH AAH AAH was recorded during 2017 at Hightime (Thomas Valkiers) and Deaftone Studios (Jannes Van Rossom) in Belgium and mixed at Jaya Jaya Music in Melbourne by Australian Michael Badger of The Demon Parade, best known for his work with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. If anything, The Spectors sound even poppier – yet edgier – than before. Indeed, the sparkling music sometimes belies the lyrics, as Marieke chronicles her life with Asperger’s in poignant, melancholy three-minute songs.


LINE-UP 

Marieke Hutsebaut: Bass/vocals 

Ruben Peeters: Guitar

Filip Hendrickx: Guitar

Davy Vanden Broecke: Drums