This summer has seen Pastel amplify their reputation as one of the UK’s next wave of vital guitar bands. They’ve become the new favourite band of the iconic Liam Gallagher and connected with a huge new audience when they opened his gargantuan Knebworth Park show – and they’re set to join him at another huge show in Cardiff this week. Meanwhile, their radio support continues with airplay at 6 Music and Radio X.
Building on that upward momentum, Pastel have released their new single ‘S.O.H.O.’ today September 13th, while their second EP ‘Isaiah’ follows on October 21st. The Manchester band’s debut EP ‘Deeper Than Holy’ made a big impact, as it went straight to #1 on the UK vinyl chart as it sold-out its 12″ vinyl pressing in just 90 seconds. There has been such demand for the EP that prices on Discogs start at £80 a copy.
‘S.O.H.O.’ immediately fires on all cylinders, its ’90s-tinged indie-dance strut propelled by John Squire-esque guitars before its breakdown explodes back into life with a bang that will ignite live shows and club nights alike. Frontman Jack Yates’ voice also stands out, blending trademark Manchester style with a soulful edge.
The ‘Isaiah’ EP will feature ‘S.O.H.O.’ and the recently released title track alongside two new songs in the shape of ‘Escape’ and ‘Two Fools’. ‘Escape’ channels the spirit of early Verve, dreamy psychedelia possessing an air of both nostalgia and optimism. The concluding ‘Two Fools’ is a bigger beast, contrasting spiralling big riffs with a spacey acoustic passage before once again hitting hard. In short, ‘Isaiah’ shows that Pastel bring a palpable new energy to their storied musical roots.
Guitarist James Yates says, “This EP feels like a step up, like we’re growing musically and expanding on our sound! It’s everything we’re about. Trippy and chilled out with a proper deep groove to it. No other young British band is doing anything nearly as good, and we cannot wait for things to pop off in 2023 when our debut album drops.”
Pastel recorded the EP with producer J. Fender, the frontman of fellow Manchester rising stars Afflecks Palace and the founder of both bands’ record label, Spirit of Spike Island. It was mixed by James Kenosha and then mastered by John Davis (The Killers, Foals, IDLES) at Metropolis in London.
The ‘Isaiah’ EP is available to pre-order / pre-save now. It will be released on digital and vinyl formats. There will be three vinyl editions, each strictly limited to just 500 copies. The Spirit of Spike Island store will exclusively stock the striking blue and pink marbled versions, while a glacier white edition will be available via select independent stores worldwide.
The band – Jack Yates (vocals), his cousin James Yates (rhythm guitar), Joe Anderson (lead guitar), Liam O’Shea (bass) and Rhys Wheeler(drums) – share influences as varied as Shack, Radiohead, The Charlatans, Blossoms and New Order. Their rise so far has seen support emerge from various influential names. The filmmaker Charlie Lightening was first on board, resulting in him directing the band’s video for ‘BLU’, the band featuring in a Pretty Green ad campaign and also being discovered by Liam Gallagher. In addition, the band met John Squire backstage at Knebworth Park and James Yates had his own viral moment when he shared a photo of him planting a kiss on Louis Tomlinson. The band have also featured on Soccer AM.
