Pastels/Tenniscoats -‘Two Sunrises’ (Geographic)

I’ve been waiting for this album to come for ages…

Back in May 2007, I was excited to finally see The Pastels, primarily because I loved their music, and also because it meant I would finally have seen all four of the bands still together who had featured on the c86 compilation (the others being Primal Scream, Half Man Half Biscuit and The Wedding Present). They played as part of the (late, much-lamented festival) Triptych. They were joined by the Tenniscoats, a Japanese band that (to my shame) I had not heard of, then.

They were working on an album together…and two years later it has finally arrived and it has been worth the wait. Put simply, this is one of the best albums I have heard this year, so good that I’ve already played it twice today. Stylistically it fits in nicely with Pastels albums like thier soundtrack to The Last Great Wilderness.

If I had to sum this album up in one word it wuld be ‘Sublime.’ It’s been pouring with rain today, and my mood’s been low, but when this has been on the iPod, it’s helped my spirit to soar. It’s an album that’s clearly been put together with care and is a true collaboration rather than the vogie for trying to email things in from as far across the globe.

As you would expect, there are some famous collaborators on the album; Gerard Love and Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub, Bill Wells and Tom Crossley of International Airport’s flute. There’s a cover of the Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘About You’ (not the Teenage Fanclub song) and the spirit of Orange Juice is over much of the album.

Dammit, what more could you ask for?

****1/2

Pastels/Tenniscoats -‘Vivid Youth’

Two Sunsets is released on Geographic on September 7.