Three Imaginary Girls - The Pastels

Two Sunsets

Chris Estey — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:37:14 +0000

7.9

http://www.amazon.com/Two-Sunsets-Pastels/dp/B002JTBXSI/?tag=wwwthreeimagi-20

Two Sunsets is a single disc release from a Glasgow band, The Pastels, and a Tokyo band, Tenniscoats. It was recorded when Tenniscoats had some studio time booked in the former's city, and they collaborated "just to see what would happen, and maybe find out what it is they have in common," their label Domino proclaims.

Many people will be attracted to this release due to the irresistible treatment of The Jesus & Mary Chain's About You, the b-side to the pre-release single "Vivid Youth." Both are excellent examples of a twelve song full length that treasures melody as much as lassitude, its modality of warmth generously consistent.

Just like how the recording process got off to a slow start, the opening instrumental, So Many Stars, seems hesitant, like a newly birthed animal getting its legs. It's a beautiful critter though, a slow, bass-heavy Velvet Underground (third album) style shimmer, evoking a blissful mood with no no haste or pressure. Then the title track features vocals from Saya, and her lovely voice describes a pastoral utopia, as if it's a summer morning after the sparse dawn-dub of So Many Stars.

Ueno from Tenniscoats' guitar playing combines well with Stephen, Katrina, and Gerard from The Pastels, but also leaving room for the legendary Norman Blake (Kevin Ayers, Soup Dragons, BMX Bandits) and Bill Wells (Ayers, Isobell Campbell) to help paint the sounds. This means the song cycle is even more talent-rich than you expect, and the two primary bands were promising enough. While nothing is surprising, it's all pure pleasure, cooked low and slow and with a very bearable lightness of being.

FYI: The Darkland-era J&MC cover was originally recorded for a theatre production by the groups, but both bands seemed happy placing it in tis sequence as well.

The Pastels join Tenniscoats in the studio and we get new songs

imaginary liz — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:18:33 +0000

Over the last couple years, Tokyo's Tenniscoats and Glasgow's Pastels met up in the studio whenever Tenniscoats were in the Pastels' hometown for shows or holidays to (as the press release explains) "just to see what happens, and maybe to try to find out what it is that they have in common."

Thankfully they've come up with an album's worth of songs which feature members of both groups, Saya and Ueno from Tenniscoats, and Stephen and Katrina from The Pastels, with Gerard Love always there too, and often Tom Crossley, Alison Mitchell, and sometimes Norman Blake and Bill Wells. The album, Two Sunsets, will be released September 22nd and will be preceded by a single for "Vivid Youth" with the b-sides "About You" (a JAMC cover) and "About You (Instrumental)".

Regardless of when, where or why, I'm over the moon that there's new Pastels stuff hitting the streets courtesy of Domino Records (which means it's gonna be swanky).

I haven't found an MP3 sampler anywhere of what the end result is... but I'll keep you posted if anything crosses my radar (you do the same)!

Short attention span songs

imaginary liz — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:48:42 +0000

Since the folks at Not Quite Rocket Science began their podcasting a couple months ago, I've been enjoying their comps. Last week's podcast is one of my favorites yet. It is group of their shortie/sweet songs.