7/10

Nearly a decade ago, Spector introduced themselves as a new and innovative wave within the indie-rock sound. While so many contemporaries were either recycling older ideas or simply clinging onto their dampening success, the outfit were a necessary shot in the arm to all those still devout to the scene. But after the release of their much-loved 2015 LP 'Moth Boys', it felt like they had begun to wind down and become another casualty within their guise. And after a short recall in 2020 with their 'Non-Fiction' EP, they are back on the grind to deliver their long-awaited third studio album 'Now Or Whenever', a record that looks to put them back into the fold.

Seeing this release helmed by the now legendary producer Rich Turvey is an instant boost for those that have heard his work to date, and 'Now Or Whenever' certainly ticks all the boxes for the band's devout fanbase. While much of this new collection plays a safe aesthetic, retaining much of the content in a familiar and exciting direction, there remain these wonderfully ambitious moments threaded throughout that not only see them create one of their more diverse works to date, but also carve out a comeback that comes across truly honest and impassioned, something that we rarely hear with so many years away from the limelight.

From start to finish, 'Now Or Whenever' comes across as an uncompromising return. While there is still great songwriting and enjoyable hooks layered amongst these eleven songs, it feels very much like a return on their terms. No leaning towards a commercial or radio-friendly sound, just pure and raw Spector as we remember them.