‘Slow Summits’
The Pastels
3 stars
The first album in 16 years from the Glaswegian twee-pop icons has the rosy-gold feel of a late summer afternoon, with a chill chasing the fading day, and a night full of possibilities yet to come. A mix of pensive ballads, such as the immaculately arranged “Kicking Leaves,” and unexpectedly buoyant numbers like the breakaway single “Check My Heart,” the album’s many moods share a template of dry, precise percussion and lush horn arrangements that envelop and lift the cool, jangling guitars (aided by ace producer John McEntire of the Sea & Cake). Katrina Mitchell’s breezy vocals are their best asset (as on “Heart”), though Stephen Pastel’s affected murmur often provides welcome contrast, and the title track — a gorgeous instrumental vista of flutes and bloops that sound like Grandaddy meets Ennio Morricone — needs no vocals at all to win the listener over completely.
Missed signs in death of little girl? ... Crossing the Island in one day on public transportation ... Out East: Safe space for animals ... Gelato recall at area supermarkets
Missed signs in death of little girl? ... Crossing the Island in one day on public transportation ... Out East: Safe space for animals ... Gelato recall at area supermarkets
