The Pastels
Encyclopedia
The Pastels are a group from Glasgow
, Scotland
, UK
.
Their early records (1982–85) for labels like Whaam!
, Creation, Rough Trade
, and Glass Records
, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time. But an emerging fanzine culture identified with the group's sound and image, and slowly The Pastels started to influence a new wave of groups, which interested the NME
and other UK media.
The Pastels' sound continued to evolve and, although part of the NMEs C86
compilation, in interviews they always sought to distance themselves from both twee and shambling developments.Ablaze! (fanzine)
Ablaze! fanzine issue 9, 1992. p28-29 Their debut album, Up for a Bit With The Pastels
(Glass
, 1987; re-issue Paperhouse
, 1991) moved from garage pop-punk through to ballads with synth orch splashes. The follow-up, Sittin' Pretty
(Chapter 22, 1989) was harder but less eclectic. Reports started to appear in the UK music press that the group was splitting up.
Eventually it became clear that a new line-up was configuring around original members, Stephen McRobbie and Annabel Wright (Aggi), now joined by Katrina Mitchell. This line-up is probably the best known of The Pastels' various phases, and often featured either David Keegan (Shop Assistants) or Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub
) on guitar. They signed with the emerging Domino Records and completed two albums, Mobile Safari
(1995) and Illumination
(1997), which showed them developing an odd, particular sound - melancholic and awkward, but warm and engaging. A remix set featured My Bloody Valentine, Jim O'Rourke
and others on the album, Illuminati
(1998). Their most recent release is the soundtrack to David Mackenzie's The Last Great Wilderness
(Geographic, 2003), which, made for film or not, is one of the most completely realised Pastels albums. It features a track recorded in collaboration with Pulp's Jarvis Cocker
. In 2006, The Pastels developed and completed new music for a theatre production by Glasgow based company, 12 Stars. In 2009, The Pastels, in collaboration with Tenniscoats
from Tokyo, Japan, released an album called Two Sunsets.
The Pastels featured on the soundtrack for film,The Acid House
(1998).
The Pastels now operate their own Geographic Music label through Domino, and are partners in Glasgow's Monorail Music shop.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Their early records (1982–85) for labels like Whaam!
Whaam!
Whaam! by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. It is widely regarded as one of his finest and notable works. It follows the comic strip-based themes of some of his past paintings....
, Creation, Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, and Glass Records
Glass Records
Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1989, if GLASS 001 and GLASS 002 were issued in 1979 and 1980 respectively.Glass was one of the circuit of key London-based indie labels of the 1980s...
, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time. But an emerging fanzine culture identified with the group's sound and image, and slowly The Pastels started to influence a new wave of groups, which interested the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and other UK media.
The Pastels' sound continued to evolve and, although part of the NMEs C86
C86 (music)
C86 is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine NME in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, although other...
compilation, in interviews they always sought to distance themselves from both twee and shambling developments.Ablaze! (fanzine)
Ablaze! (fanzine)
Ablaze! was a British indie music fanzine, produced in Manchester and Leeds, that ran for ten issues between 1987 and 1993.-History:In the 1980s Ablaze! was an early champion of UK 'noisenik' bands, such as Dog Faced Hermans, the Wedding Present and the Walking Seeds, and US noise rock and grunge...
Ablaze! fanzine issue 9, 1992. p28-29 Their debut album, Up for a Bit With The Pastels
Up for a Bit With The Pastels
Up for a Bit with The Pastels is the debut album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1987. It was named the 37th best Scottish album by The Scotsman.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"Ride" – 2:24...
(Glass
Glass Records
Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1989, if GLASS 001 and GLASS 002 were issued in 1979 and 1980 respectively.Glass was one of the circuit of key London-based indie labels of the 1980s...
, 1987; re-issue Paperhouse
Paperhouse (record label)
Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993.The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon...
, 1991) moved from garage pop-punk through to ballads with synth orch splashes. The follow-up, Sittin' Pretty
Sittin' Pretty
Sittin' Pretty is an album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1989. The first track, "Nothing to Be Done" was featured in the soundtrack of 1998's film adaptation of Irvine Welsh' novel "The Acid House".-Track listing:...
(Chapter 22, 1989) was harder but less eclectic. Reports started to appear in the UK music press that the group was splitting up.
Eventually it became clear that a new line-up was configuring around original members, Stephen McRobbie and Annabel Wright (Aggi), now joined by Katrina Mitchell. This line-up is probably the best known of The Pastels' various phases, and often featured either David Keegan (Shop Assistants) or Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
) on guitar. They signed with the emerging Domino Records and completed two albums, Mobile Safari
Mobile Safari
Mobile Safari is an album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1995.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"Exploration Team" - 3:04#"Mandarin" - 3:26...
(1995) and Illumination
Illumination (The Pastels album)
Illumination is the fourth studio album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1997.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"The Hits Hurt" - 3:48#"Cycle" - 4:33...
(1997), which showed them developing an odd, particular sound - melancholic and awkward, but warm and engaging. A remix set featured My Bloody Valentine, Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
and others on the album, Illuminati
Illuminati (album)
Illuminati is a remix album credited to The Pastels, released in 1998. It contains remixes of The Pastels' album Illumination by artists such as Stereolab, Mouse on Mars and My Bloody Valentine.-Track listing:...
(1998). Their most recent release is the soundtrack to David Mackenzie's The Last Great Wilderness
The Last Great Wilderness
The Last Great Wilderness is a soundtrack album by the Scottish band The Pastels, containing music from the movie The Last Great Wilderness. The music comprises mostly short and atmospheric pieces, while three of the songs are brief fragments of eerie vocal loops and bells...
(Geographic, 2003), which, made for film or not, is one of the most completely realised Pastels albums. It features a track recorded in collaboration with Pulp's Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
. In 2006, The Pastels developed and completed new music for a theatre production by Glasgow based company, 12 Stars. In 2009, The Pastels, in collaboration with Tenniscoats
Tenniscoats
Tenniscoats is a Japanese band with two members, Saya & Takashi Ueno, but they often have guest musicians playing and performing with them...
from Tokyo, Japan, released an album called Two Sunsets.
The Pastels featured on the soundtrack for film,The Acid House
The Acid House (film)
The Acid House is a film adaptation of Irvine Welsh's short story collection The Acid House. Welsh himself wrote the screenplay, and appears as a minor character in the film.-Plot:...
(1998).
The Pastels now operate their own Geographic Music label through Domino, and are partners in Glasgow's Monorail Music shop.
Current
- Stephen McRobbie (or Stephen Pastel) – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Katrina Mitchell – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals
Former
- Brian Taylor (or Brian Superstar) – guitar
- Martin Hayward – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Bernice Simpson – drums
- Annabel Wright (or Aggi) – bass, vocals
Contributors
- Gerard Love - guitar, bass guitar
- Tom Crossley - fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Alison MitchellAlison MitchellAlison Mitchell is an English sports broadcaster. She is a reporter for Test Match Special, and a reporter and commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live and Five Live Sports Extra.-Early life:...
- trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... - John Hogarty - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Norman BlakeNorman Blake (Scottish musician)Norman Blake is a singer-songwriter in the Glasgow based band, Teenage Fanclub.Blake and Sean Dickson were in The Faith Healers together, which also contained various members at different times Stevie Gray, Hugh McLaughlin, Brian Carson and Colin Murray to name but a few.Blake and Carson were...
- guitar, bass guitar - Colin McIlroy - guitar
- David Keegan - guitar
- Jonathan Kilgour - guitar
- Charlie Dinsdale - drums
- Francis McDonaldFrancis McDonaldFrancis McDonald was an American actor whose career spanned 52 years. Although never really a headlining actor, he made 41 film and television appearances between 1913 and 1965, appearing in films such as The Temptress in 1926 with Greta Garbo...
- drums - Chris Gordon - drums
- MichaelMichaelMichael is a given name that comes from the , derived from the Hebrew question מי כמו אלוהים? meaning "Who is like God?" In English, it is sometimes shortened to Mike, Mikey, or, especially in Ireland, Mick...
- bass guitar - Sandy Forbes - drums
- Dean WarehamDean WarehamDean Wareham is an American musician, who formed the band Galaxie 500 in 1987. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Wareham moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia, before settling in New York City in 1977. Wareham attended high school at Dalton School in New York, and then attended Harvard...
- guitar
Studio albums
- Up for a Bit with The PastelsUp for a Bit With The PastelsUp for a Bit with The Pastels is the debut album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1987. It was named the 37th best Scottish album by The Scotsman.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"Ride" – 2:24...
(1987) - Sittin' PrettySittin' PrettySittin' Pretty is an album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1989. The first track, "Nothing to Be Done" was featured in the soundtrack of 1998's film adaptation of Irvine Welsh' novel "The Acid House".-Track listing:...
(1989) - Mobile SafariMobile SafariMobile Safari is an album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1995.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"Exploration Team" - 3:04#"Mandarin" - 3:26...
(1995) - IlluminationIllumination (The Pastels album)Illumination is the fourth studio album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1997.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"The Hits Hurt" - 3:48#"Cycle" - 4:33...
(1997) - Two Sunsets (with TenniscoatsTenniscoatsTenniscoats is a Japanese band with two members, Saya & Takashi Ueno, but they often have guest musicians playing and performing with them...
) (2009)
Compilation albums
- Suck On (1988)
- Truckload Of TroubleTruckload Of TroubleTruckload Of Trouble is a compilation album by The Pastels, released in 1994. It consists of a number of singles released by the band from 1986-1994.- Track listing :#"Thank You for Being You"#"Thru' Your Heart"#"Firebell Ringing"#"Kitted Out"...
(1994) - IlluminatiIlluminati (album)Illuminati is a remix album credited to The Pastels, released in 1998. It contains remixes of The Pastels' album Illumination by artists such as Stereolab, Mouse on Mars and My Bloody Valentine.-Track listing:...
(1998)
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Songs for Children | Whaam! (WHAM005) | |
| 1983 | "I Wonder Why" / "Supposed to Understand" | Rough Trade Rough Trade Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!... (RT 137) |
|
| 1984 | "Something Going On" | Creation Creation Records Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were... (CRE 005) |
|
| "Million Tears" | Creation (CRE 011T) | ||
| 1985 | "I'm Alright With You" | Creation (CRE 023T) | |
| 1986 | "Truck Train Tractor" / "Breaking Lines" | Glass Glass Records Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1989, if GLASS 001 and GLASS 002 were issued in 1979 and 1980 respectively.Glass was one of the circuit of key London-based indie labels of the 1980s... (GLASS 48) |
|
| 1986 | "Crawl Babies" | Glass (GLASS 50) | Up for a Bit with The Pastels Up for a Bit With The Pastels Up for a Bit with The Pastels is the debut album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1987. It was named the 37th best Scottish album by The Scotsman.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"Ride" – 2:24... |
| 1987 | "Comin' Through" | Glass (GLASS 53) | |
| 1989 | "Baby You’re Just You" | Chapter 22 (CHAP 37) | Sittin' Pretty Sittin' Pretty Sittin' Pretty is an album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1989. The first track, "Nothing to Be Done" was featured in the soundtrack of 1998's film adaptation of Irvine Welsh' novel "The Acid House".-Track listing:... |
| 1990 | "Different Drum" | K Records K Records K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers... (IPU 14) |
|
| 1991 | "Speeding Motorcycle" | Paperhouse Paperhouse (record label) Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993.The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon... (PAPER 008) |
|
| "Thru' Your Heart" / "Firebell Ringing" | Paperhouse Paperhouse (record label) Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993.The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon... (PAPER 011) |
||
| 1993 | "Thank You for Being You" / "Kitted Out" | Paperhouse Paperhouse (record label) Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993.The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon... (PAPER 023) |
|
| 1994 | "Yoga" | Domino (RUG28) | Mobile Safari Mobile Safari Mobile Safari is an album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1995.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"Exploration Team" - 3:04#"Mandarin" - 3:26... |
| 1995 | "Worlds of Possibility" | Domino (RUG36T) | |
| 1997 | "Unfair Kind of Fame" | Domino (RUG55T) | Illumination Illumination (The Pastels album) Illumination is the fourth studio album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1997.-Track listing:All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted.#"The Hits Hurt" - 3:48#"Cycle" - 4:33... |
| "The Hits Hurt" | Domino (RUG52) | ||
| 1998 | "One Wild Moment" | Domino (RUG79T) | Illuminati Illuminati (album) Illuminati is a remix album credited to The Pastels, released in 1998. It contains remixes of The Pastels' album Illumination by artists such as Stereolab, Mouse on Mars and My Bloody Valentine.-Track listing:... |
With Jad Fair
- Jad FairJad FairJad Fair is an American singer, guitarist and graphic artist, most famous for being a founding member of lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese.-Biography:In 1974, with his brother David, Jad Fair founded the lo-fi group Half Japanese...
and The Pastels - This Could Be the Night EP (PaperhousePaperhouse (record label)Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993.The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon...
, 1991) - Jad Fair and The Pastels - No. 2 EP (PaperhousePaperhouse (record label)Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993.The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon...
, 1992)