My Review:
Pale Blue Eyes - Souvenirs
The will to live, compromised, bruised, poisoned, dampened and hopelessly destined to lose vitality can draw support from art, and often music conveys precious energy.
In the case of the English band's debut album, we cannot but take advantage of the propensity for positivity, with the creation of songs that tend to make us open our mouths in generous smiles and to dance tirelessly.
We have the certainty (God knows, if he exists, how much we need it) of finding in the quality of the compositions of this effervescent trio a range of sounds, effective arrangements and strobe light effects in the waves of notes full of joy.
The musical genres are under the banner of the revival of certain 80s intuitions and the 90s attitude of rediscovering the will to dream: from a skillful use of electronic music (we have many references to Kraut-Rock in an excellent way), to the most velvety Post-Punk, to Shoegaze relieved of a certain tension and heaviness, to a Pop-Dance with imprints of wisdom, everything is governed by a careful production that conveys freshness.
One can hear the specific and well-articulated work, the will of a celestial circuit made of stars, planets and a sun that gives tons of strength to cope with a complex existence.
It is time to go and specify this colourful and majestic circus.
Song by Song
Globe
A stinging synth, Matt Board's dreamy vocals, Lucy's effective drumming and Aubrey Simpson's leaking bass make the opener track a gem that makes us lift our lower limbs in a confetti-filled dance.
Tv Flicker
The flamboyantly dressed 90s show themselves with enthusiasm in a corollary of clear solutions to lead us to the dream vibrating in the air: energy and the chorus of notes perfectly sealed together.
Little Gem
The initial drumming takes us back to Da Da Da of the never forgotten Trio, but then comes the perfect combination of Synthpop and Dreampop and paradise is granted to us with subtle vocals.
Dr Pong
It's magical, filled with reminders of The Legendary Pink Dots (relieved of their dramatic nature), and then ensnares us with enchanting electronic sprinkles, leading to the magnetic and sensual refrain.
Honeybear
The guitar becomes heavier, more incisive (Shoegaze seems here to be one of the trio's endless possibilities to make it catchy and light), and the dreamy vocals are the perfect counterpoint.
Star Vehicle
Robert Smith's band appears at the beginning of the track to take us on a conscious, harmonious ride, and in this song we really get the impression that youth does not mean immaturity: sounds and propensities full of quality, which make our hearts vibrate.
Champagne
We toast with effervescent drops of notes that rise into the galaxy, in the perfect interplay between bass, guitar and synth, capable of keeping us at the edges of our seats and throwing us into the never excessive lightness.
Sing It Like We Used To
Perhaps the moment of greatest intensity, shivers and immense joy that surround us copiously, for a song that seems a sudden gift: a chorus of voices, a guitar with an alternative movement and the bass which captures us pushing its notes into our stomachs.
Undern Northern Sky
The 80s, the ones that were swollen with hazy rays, come in, revisited and corrected, like vibrating waves that, through Synthwave, psychedelia and softness, provide nostalgia and joy at the same time, in a sublime contradiction.
Chelsea
The surprise of slowing down the rhythm and a delicate atmosphere comes with the last track, a Shoegaze dive that brings Slowdive back within dreaming distance. But then the guitar makes us realise that the three are mainly interested in finding their own style and they do it perfectly.
Alex Dematteis
Musicshockworld
Salford
6th September 2022
https://paleblueeyesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/souvenirs
https://open.spotify.com/album/3ygeCJvvmY78sdfbvpFdYN?si=it-hk5e8QxajTuxSrQ20lg