This is The Pastels own myspace. It is maintained by Stephen and Katrina.
Official biog, 2008.
The Pastels are a Glasgow-based music group, which originated in ramshackle style in the 1980s, with an almost accidental sound which became extremely influential both on a local level and internationally. Singles like Something Going On and Million Tears were rough-hued 'almost-pop' and connected with a new audience of music lovers many of whom saw and heard something which offered them the possibility to become a participant, which they expressed through fanzines and their own music. The Pastels debut album, Up For A Bit With The Pastels (Glass, 1987), was a spectacular triumph, but their participation in the NME's C86 seemed to mark them down as 'a certain type of group'. After an anti-climatic follow-up, Sittin Pretty (Chapter 22, 1989), it seemed like maybe the group was fading out, but they were actually re-configuring and learning again from scratch with a core line-up of Stephen McRobbie, Annabel Wright (Aggi), and Katrina Mitchell. It was a slow process which eventually resulted in their strongest and best music, on albums like Mobile Safari and Illumination (Domino, 1995, 1997). After a remix set, Illuminati (1998), The Pastels spent time setting up their own Geographic Music imprint via Domino, with the intention of releasing somewhat unknown, beautiful music into the world. Artists on Geographic have included Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Bill Wells Trio, Empress, International Airport, Future Pilot AKA, Directorsound, Kama Aina and The Royal We. In this phase the only new Pastels music was a soundtrack for David Mackenzie's The Last Great Wilderness (Geographic, 2002); dark, slo-mo and melodic, it attracted excellent reviews. In 2006, The Pastels developed and partly performed new music for a theatre production by Glasgow based company, 12 Stars. Mainly The Pastels have since been focused on completing two new albums, one in collaboration with Tokyo-based group, The Tenniscoats, and one, their own 'new Pastels album'.
Hey Steven Cheers for add i thot i had you on my page ' the talk today in Glasgow was excellent your a really big help in stearing me in the right direction,hope to catch you before my course ends in december 'Fred
I've added scans of 'Pastelism, issues 1, 2 and 3' plus 'Pamfletti' to the Flickr group Pastelism 1,2,3
These are two fanzines produced by The Pastels (and in the case of 'Pamfletti' in collaboration with Stereolab and Bob Stanley from St Etienne) in the early Nineties
Pastelism includes contributions from Duglas from The BMX Bandits (on Jonathan Richman), Calvin Johnson on Lee Hazlewood, Jon Smele (now Dr Jonathan Smele) on Daniel Johnston, an interview by Stephen with Norman Teenage Fanclub, Aggi on Speedway, B.A.L.L., Pat Laureate and 'Learn to Swim with The Pastels', amongst other important things
Pamfletti includes Bob Stanley on Michel Polnareff, Tim Gane on 'records you should definitely get if you see 'em in a car boot sale or second hand shop for cheap... (or tape 'em)', Katrina's (then) Top Ten, Paul's Deli and a contribution from (sometime Richard Kern collaborator?) Lucy McKenzie of Grrrl zine 'Violet'
I've also scanned a Pastels interview from Hairy Hi-Fi, number five, which includes stuff on The Pastels working with Jad Fair, their appearance at the IPU festival and a close encounter with Crispin Glover
And, if that's not enough, there's an interview from the same issue of Hairy Hi-Fi with Melody Dog
Hey! I play "About You" in my October show for Dandelion Radio - The online radio station inspired by John Peel!
This month's show commemorates the fifth anniversary of the great man's passing, every other track is one which John (& probably only John) played at least a few times on his BBC Radio 1 show.
To listen, go to our website at dandelionradio.com and click on one of the "Listen Live" links on the front page.
You will be able to hear my show on most days for the whole of the month! Plus a host of other shows playing an eclectic variety of new and unreleased music, as well as exclusive sessions by Peel legends! See schedule on website for details!
I can't wait to hear the new album, I gotta wait until payday:( I played one of your older songs, "Thru' Your Heart" last night on my radio show. Thanks!
POPSCENE with J*A*L*A*L Radio Weser [Bremen/Germany] [92.5 FM / 101.85 FM] Fridays 18h CET [since 1994!] LISTEN AGAIN ::: THIS WEEK'S SHOW
::: POPSCENE Playlist 11.09.2009 :::..
PASTELS/TENNISCOATS Vivid Youth LOVE IS ALL New Beginnings ARTIE SHAW My Blue Heaven SPILLS Faux Pas Ha Ha SINGING LIONS Old Ferry Lane TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC Box Office Hit TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC Ruler Rules ECONOLINE I'm Plagued LODGER I Think I Need You MEME LOVE You & Me POLITE SLEEPER Driving Ohio FRIENDLY SCIENCE ORCHESTRA Sutekina Sora O HOLY STATE Jagged Lines WAVE PICTURES Bumble Bee TITIYO Longing For Lullabies RIDE Unfamiliar ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEBSITE : www.popscenewithjalal.com MYSPACE SITE : www.myspace.com/popscenewithjalal -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope you're keeping well. The show in Bush Hall at the weekend was just wonderful! The new songs sounded class and it was great to hear those old Pastels classics, especially Baby Honey. I don't think any of us were expecting that! Anyway, see you in Monorail sometime soon.
Online Now!
