Review of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart Album by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Review of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's debut self-titled album released through Furtuna Pop!
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart make such a definite and forceful nod towards shoegaze indie bands of 1980s-yore that it is frankly surprising that any of their heads are still attached to their spinal columns. Xylophone? Check! Ethereal, wispy vocals? Check! Heavily distorted guitars, chiming away relentlessly behind one-string solos? Check!
Well, that's them nicely pigeon-holed then. In this case, though, this is less a case of pigeon-holing a band, as watching them carefully apply beak, feathers and ankle-tag and clambering in there themselves. Influences are worn boldly on sleeves and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart painstakingly recreate the sounds of the Aislers Set and a sped-up Smiths. In 'modern' day terms, they are not entirely unlike the Manhattan Love Suicides or Newcastle's Pale Man Made.
Thankfully, this particular form of historical recreation is decidedly more entertaining than, say, watching some fellas dressing up as knights and re-enacting a jousting match. TPOBPAT have nailed the art of the perfect scuzzed-up pop song. As long it's not 'original' or 'groundbreaking' you're after, there is joy to be had here. just remember.they have one foot in the Noughties and the other tangled up in an old C86 cassette tape.
Hayley Avron
Site - http://www.thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com
