By Amélie Peters, Music Sub-Editor
Doing their due diligence, pastel deliver a quite good set in what is not ideal circumstances. Its hard to deliver a convincing performance to a mostly empty room but pastel do try, seemingly disillusioned they give it there best shot.
Propelled to the countries peripheral vision by Liam Gallagher in 2022, the stratospheric career jump might not have been the idyllic dream the band thought. Gallagher certainly has his own fan base and whilst Gallagher himself is a superfan of the group, his fanbase and own music differ so drastically the pastel push was probably into the wrong music fanbase.
'Souls in motion', there debut album is suitably pretentious and whimsically titled. Decorative lyrically and nuanced to the eyeballs, the band scream university educated but in a charmingly boyish way.
Destined to be played in the background of surf shops like Roxy and ripcurl, this is the band your fifteen year old self aspired to be in. There's something inherently relaxing to the music despite being located in the indie-rock genre, an interesting quality that needs to be expanded on or redirected.
'Your day', features emo esc lyrics including 'we'll make you a man some day' and 'you've got to find a way' paired with a rich indie sound the band are definitely unique in there mishmash of genre.
The attribute of the band that supersedes all else for me is the quality of musician. Whilst the genre isn't exactly my tea and crumpets, I was taken back by the calibre and expertise of the boys. Played exquisitely Joe Anderson has mastered his instrument and is sure to be the future beau of the guitar world.
'She waits for me', is a premise I'm not sure I can get behind, however a song that features 'strawberry laces' does arouse a curiosity in me, sadly then quashed by the lack of emotive substance. Maybe a foray into the darker aspects of nature is the next move for the band.
The band will be touring back in bristol in the next few months, playing the lovely strangebrew and showing off the exceptional musical prowess that is their new album.
Featured image :Amelie PetersWhat do you think of the new album?