SEVEN NOISES

You'll probably know by now that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are back with a new single that came out yesterday on their label Slumberland Records. The two song 7 inch Say No to Love / Lost Saint comes after another great non-album tracks single Higher than the Stars that was out last Autumn. No news if any of these two songs will form part of a new album or, as it was tradition at the beginning of the 90s in the UK when some great artists put out numerous non-album EPs, period that the Pains take inspiration from, these songs will remain only available under this format.
The two new songs are not far from what they've been offering until now and although not up there with my personal favourites, they still have some great tunes to offer.

If there's one band everybody is going to remember 2009 for is The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. A couple of singles and an EP last year after just months of forming made everybody expect their album and when it came early this year nobody was talking about anything else. Everybody I know had the record non-stop at their decks and i-pods and recovered from the dusty record collection classics from Wedding Present,Jesus and Mary Chain, Chapterhouse, House of Love, Slowdive, Stone Roses, Ride or any decent British band who released records between 1987 and 1992. And after touring all the planet and being in every festival that is worth to go they are ready to publish a new song they have already been playing live for a while. No surprises here, not a change of style or anything new but who is going to ask them for any changes when they have just been publishing stuff for a year. Higher Than the Stars is another pop song that takes you back on time when shoegaze and indie-pop where barely new words and the boring Britpop period was still about to come. The single will be released on the 22nd of September in three formats: 7, 12 and CDs including three new B sides and a Saint Etienne remix of the title track.
In other news, the Come Saturday single has been released this week as the last single of the album with a new B side, Side Ponytail.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars.mp3

Both these singles were released a while ago and I avoided commenting them because you can find information about them in every single blog around the planet. Both The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Crystal Stilts are two of the most commented bands this year, both in Slumberland Records, and never before the hype could be more right as both bands are two of the most interesting and talented ones to emerge lately, and two of my favourites currently so, yes, why not comment them.
The Pains' Young Adult Friction is one of their finest tracks and is one of these songs that should and probably will be played in every single indie bar, party or festival this summer. It really makes me feel 17 again. They have been touring Europe for the last month so if you haven't seen them yet you probably should. They plan to release a new single in August consisting on two tracks not available before that they have been playing live during their last
gigs.

Released 18/05/09

Crystal Stilts' Love is a Wave is their shortest track and a song you can only find is this single. It has been re-issued after an initial limited edition so you probably still are able to find it somewhere. This song, my personal favourite, has a sixties surf vibe that makes it very summery and its short duration will make you stuck it on repeat. The b side Sugar Baby has the same 60s feeling although it's not as effective. they have recently recorded a daytrotter session I recommend and they plan to release a 12' with Capture Tracks later this year.