Pastel have been described as a shoegaze guitar band hailing from Manchester, comprising Jack Yates (lead singer), James Yates (rhythm guitarist), Aaron Tormey (lead guitarist), Liam Oshea (bass guitarist), and Rhys Wheeler (drums) and have released a couple of EP`s but were really stifled by the covid lockdown.
Their much-anticipated debut album `Souls In Motion` is released to the world this month. The band have some fairly influential advocates and were chosen to support Liam Gallagher at his Knebworth show in June 2022. They have also graced the stages of festivals such as Isle of Wight, Dot To Dot, Victorious, Manchester Psych Festival and This Feeling By The Sea.
The album opens with `Heroes Blood` with crashing guitars and cymbals, a number with a really heavy psychedelic feel with an appealing guitar solo thrown in for good measure. The song becomes fairly spacious in the latter section. In `Your Day` we have a track that really shimmers and encourages all to `carpe diem`, seize the day or make the most of your life, a fairly anthemic listen.
`Dancing On A Pin` has a driving rhythm with lyrics that encourage us to ignore the distractors that hold you back from fulfilling your dreams shared like a flowing stream of consciousness. A pretty anthemic musing. I thought there was a delightfully endearing wavering inflection in the vocals shared on `Isaiah` a thoughtful reflection on a chaotic and tumultuous upbringing. At times, the composition felt as if it was veering towards being orchestrated such was the expansive sound.
`Running On Empty` is a fast-paced offering with driving riffs and vocals that are quite forceful. We enjoy an extensive, all-embracing infinite resonance with `Deeper Than Holy` which I’m sure Primal Scream or The Verve would have been wired to have composed and written.
`Gone Too Fast` has some cracking guitar chord riffs but for me the percussive tones really stood out and allowed a platform for the dreamy vocal delivery. The piano driven `Leave A Light On (Velvet Storm)`is an enchanting and intensive slow burn and a number made for a live outing which will ensure lit phones and lighters being held aloft.
`Sunnyside` to me was a bit of a curved ball, something a little different, a contemplative, meditative expression on love which has some brief whistling mid song and harmonised vocals towards the end. We close out with the dreamy `Escape` with strummed guitar and intricate chord grooves.
I read that the band spent twelve months writing the album, which for me shows that they really care about what they want to accomplish. They have shared that their influences range from listening to bands such as Shack, The Verve, Radiohead, The Charlatans, Blossoms, New Order and Ride. But Pastel have a flair, finesse, and style of their own.
I`m sure that when the best of lists of 2025 come out in December `Souls In Motion` will be up there.
Rating 9/10
