Our album of the week (4th September 2009)
...according to our Brian on Thu 03 Sep, 2009.
I wish someone hadn't put this in the press release for the Pastels/Tenniscoats LP - "....and Pastels are the name to drop in modern music circles" - i've never read such unnecessary shit! I really like The Pastels a great deal, the original shambling Scots C86-er popsters alongside The Vaselines, and this boxfresh collaboration with Tokyo's delightful minimal textured pop whizzkids T-coats (tm) is a graceful, twinkling, tender, exploratory & meditative ride through balmy, trippy waters, gentle downbeat lullabies - one number sounds a little like B&S at their most gentle (although Stephen Pastel still sounds like a less belligerent Bobby Gillespie, what a star!) - and some of the most floaty, wispy organic sounding lounging pop I've heard in an age - full of such warmth, wonder & magic. I totally love the single, a dreamy take on fellow Glaswegians JAMC's 'About You' and only the occasional presence of briefly fluttering pan pipes cause the faintest chink in my otherwise blissfully unfurrowed brow. 'Start Slowly So We Sound Like a Loch' finishes off a delicious, languid journey with the Pastels lassie's woozy Scots tones melting right into some feather light ivory plinking and a sweet muted accordion whilst this plethora of softly kaleidoscopic sound the T-coat massive consistently conjure up eventually flickers away into the nothingness like a sleepy butterfly seeking pastures new. A truly lovely record, 'Two Sunsets' is out on CD/LP thru GeographicBrand new album from Pastels in collaboration with Japan’s Tenniscoats.
Pastels are from Glasgow and Tenniscoats are from Tokyo. They
have different sounds but something in common too. This
collaboration, which eventually became the ‘Two Sunsets’ album,
arose from a suggestion by Tenniscoats that some studio time be
booked while they were in Glasgow, just to see what happens, and
maybe to try to find out what it is that they have in common.
the rise of Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls and Pains Of Being
Pure At Heart, the Pastels influence and relevance has been felt
here and across the pond, and Pastels are the name to drop in
modern music circles.
Tracklsiting:
Tokyo Glasgow * Two Sunsets * Song For A Friend * Vivid
Youth * Yomigaeru * Modesty Piece * About You * Boats *
Hikoki * Sodane * Mou Mou Rainbow * Start Slowly So We
Sound Like A Loch
...according to stephen pastel.
Hello. I use this site and like it. Thanks for kind words. I do generally write the Geographic press releases but not for The Pastels. Original press release was written by Jon Dale, a freelance writer / academic / friend now living in Melbourne, Australia. Domino will have based their shop sales notes on this. Felt I wanted to clear that up. More power to Norman. SP...according to Richard Johns.
in reference to the 'why do pr people write these...' I think you'll find Stephen Pastel writes those press releases.
Rating: 4 out of 5So, what do you think? Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!