New album from Spy From Moscow

Over the last decade, Spy From Moscow, a London-based songwriter, has been delighting audiences across Europe and the UK with his explosive live performances. Combining soaring vocals with grunge-inspired guitar work, he creates an intimate yet alternative atmosphere that leaves audiences craving more.

Influenced by the Seattle grunge scene and artists like Sun Kil Moon, PJ Harvey, and John Cale, Spy From Moscow’s music is built on bittersweet melodies and heartfelt lyricism. First making his entrance in 2015 with the debut single “Little War,” paired with the tracks “It Never Comes” and “Persephone,” he’s since dropped a string of well-received singles over the years. Now he brings us his most ambitious project to date, his debut record titled Night Music, featuring seven tracks that have been years in the making.

The album was recorded partly in Attic Sounds studio and partly in a London industrial estate, with analogue mastering in Portland, Oregon by AudioSiege. The album’s title reflects the late-night sessions during which many of the tracks were written and recorded, capturing a mood of reflection and contemplation.

Opened by “Dolls,” the album immediately slips into a melancholic acoustic guitar-driven scene as hushed vocals hover above the soft instrumental backing. Crafting an intimate sound with emotive songwriting and stripped-back arrangement, his voice carries a mesmeric sorrow that has you hooked from start to finish.

“Whispering In The Walls” injects a gritty rock aesthetic with the hazy crunch of guitar chords riding the laid back rustle of drums. Spy From Moscow’s vocals serve up a moving performance of expressive melodies to deliver an engaging rock music experience that threads his meaningful lyricism through an atmospheric sonic lens capped by delicate lead guitar notes that float in a sea of reverb in the final moments.

On “Soldier Song,” warm guitar tones drift below elegant vocals as the gentle snap of percussion provides a swaying rhythm. Airy vocals rise with the swell of the instrumentation, resulting in a gripping sound that completely wraps around you while soft backing voices underpin Spy From Moscow’s leads.

Other highlights on the album include songs like “Inner City” with its bright vocal style and smokey blend of guitars and tapped drums. Providing another display of his meaningful songwriting that has you hanging on every line, the track casts a hypnotic sound as the ebb and flow of the instrumentation and patter of drums provides the perfect backing for his superb vocal work.

Closing the album with “Tickle Me Pink,” restrained acoustic guitar is met by subdued vocals, almost whispering their aching lines to create a sound that stops you in your tracks via a timeless sound of tender and heartfelt acoustic folk rock music that sees stretching string lines add to the closing moments. It’s s stellar finale to a sensational debut record, one that showcases the enduring quality of Spy From Moscow’s musical output and confirms his talent as a songwriting and performer throughout. With several shows lined up in the UK this summer to support the release, the artist will soon be heading back to the studio to finish his sophomore record, ready for release next year.

Listen to Night Music below