Spray
Pop · GB · Active since 2001

Spray

Glossy, high-energy synth-pop that pairs 80s neon nostalgia with sharp, satirical wit. Perfect for those who like their dance floor anthems with a side of irony.

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Intro

Spray sounds like the moment a Saturday morning cartoon from 1986 suddenly gains self-awareness and starts critiquing modern consumer culture. It is a world of shimmering digital synths, relentless four-on-the-floor kick drums, and vocal performances that oscillate between sugary pop earnestness and a dry, British deadpan. The production is unapologetically bright, leaning into the high-gloss aesthetic of early 2000s Eurodance while maintaining a sophisticated, indie-pop sensibility.

What truly sets them apart is their lyrical DNA. Emerging from the chaos of The Cuban Boys, Ricardo Autobahn and Jenny McLaren bring a sharp, satirical edge to the synth-pop format. They don't just write pop songs; they write songs about the absurdity of pop music, the weirdness of fandom, and the specific melancholy of aging out of cool subcultures. It is music for people who love the dance floor but can't help over-analyzing the lighting.

Start with 'Children of a Laser God' for the definitive Spray experience. It captures their ability to blend massive, radio-ready hooks with niche cultural references. If you want something more recent and refined, 'Ambiguous Poems About Death' shows they haven't lost their bite, offering a more mature but equally neon-soaked take on their signature sound.

Spray is a synth-pop duo from Preston, Lancashire, England, consisting of siblings Jenny McLaren and Ricardo Autobahn. Following the demise of their previous band, the Cuban Boys (famous for their Hampster Dance record and John Peel sessions), McLaren and Autobahn released the album Living In Neon on Ninthwave Records in the United States. This was followed in 2003 by the extended single "I Am Gothic". A new album, Children of a Laser God was released online in 2006, along with the single "Run With Us", a cover of the theme tune of the popular 1980's cartoon The Raccoons with the "Michael Trenfield" remix as the main single accompanied with the original version and remixes from JKZ, Absorb, FMU and Diskowarp. After a hiatus, the duo returned in 2010 with the single "Everything's Better With Muppets", accompanied by a popular YouTube video containing excerpts from The Muppet Show lipsynching with the song. Amongst other projects, Spray have been partially responsible for Glen Campbell's 2002 return to the top of the charts with the "Rhinestone Cowboy" remake, top 40 kids band the Barndance Boys, and the European hit "The Woah Song" by DJ Daz (Daz Sampson). McLaren has a successful sideline in vocalising club/dance records, and Autobahn in soundtracks and commercials. The band has also had one of their singles, "I Am Gothic", appear in the Xbox game Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3. Spray's 2016 release, Enforced Fun, released on the Banoffeesound label, featured narration on its opening track "The Prologue" by actress and singer Jane Badler and collaborations on other tracks with artists like Kid Kasio and Hyperbubble. A version available by electronic download through Bandcamp included instrumental versions of the tracks and a bumper sticker. Their fourth album Failure Is Inevitable was released in May 2019 on Analogue Trash, as was 2021's Ambiguous Poems About Death and 2023's album of cover versions Songs Already Sung.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA →
Our Catalog8 Albums · 1981 · 2022
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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