Pastels & Tenniscoats: 12 Years Later, New Music!

Scottish indie pop veterans The Pastels have unveiled their first non-soundtrack studio album in over a decade, a collaborative effort with the Japanese duo Tenniscoats. This release signifies a prolonged period of creative output for the band, who have maintained a continuous presence since 1982.

The current iteration of The Pastels, seemingly a duo of Stephen McRobbie and Katrina Mitchell, has further embraced a slower, hazier sound. Their new music prioritizes sparse arrangements and contemplative moods, a departure from the urgent pop of their earlier work.

The collaboration with Tenniscoats has largely guided the album's aesthetic, blending the two groups' styles seamlessly. Tracks like 'Sodane' offer a rare glimpse of past urgency, while others, such as 'Yomigaeru,' highlight the delicate interplay between the musicians, with Saya's vocals drawing comparisons to Mitchell's.

While the album occasionally suffers from a lack of focus, with some instrumentals feeling incomplete and a cover song adding little new, its standout moments are compelling. 'Vivid Youth' is praised for its warm, textural qualities, and the joint composition 'Song for a Friend' is a highlight, featuring lyrical exchanges in both English and Japanese that reflect on shared memories.