Admired by Kurt Cobain and touted by Sonic Youth, The Pastels ironically always exhibited a more a tender, mousy spirit in spite of the punky undercurrent that propelled them. The Glasgow musicians may or may not have predated Belle & Sebastian in bringing a twee gentleness to Scottish rock n' roll, but their first album since 1997's Illumination finds them comfortably dwelling in the twee camp. Slow Summits is a purposefully slower, less engaging but still endearing offering from a band that has long maintained a dedicated cult following.
With flat vocals flopped over casual pop orchestra grooves, Slow Summits takes listeners into territory Nico once explored. But while Nico was emphatically annoyed by the flutes that edged into her music, The Pastels embrace the charms of the instrument. There is a blissful innocence to Slow Summits that some may find cloying. Others, however, will be enchanted by the child-like glory on display even if its tameness disappoints those accustomed to slightly more vivacious Pastels records.
Throughout the record there is a balanced interplay between the voices of Stephen McRobbie and Katrina Mitchell. Working more smoothly together than as individuals, the pair come together wonderfully for the alt-country twang of "Wrong Light" and the love-strut of "Check My Heart." On the titular track, the more familiar rock presence that established The Pastels makes a winding appearance in elongated, mostly instrumental, form. The breeziness of "Come To The Dance" then promptly ends the album on a giddy note.
Although The Pastels lack the pull and significance they once did, Slow Summits nonetheless proves that even after a sixteen year delay the band is still capable of making artistically viable music. The color and warmth applied to their return record gives the act's moniker new meaning and vitality. Though The Pastels may never expand far beyond the niche audience they have found themselves adored by, they have retained a purity Slow Summits happily demonstrates in temperate hues and soft impressions.
Grade: B
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