| The Pastels |
Stephen,
Aggi and Katrina in 1994
|
| Background information |
| Origin |
Glasgow, Scotland |
| Years active |
1982 - Present |
| Label(s) |
Domino Records |
The Pastels are a group from Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
They have been described as an 'almost pop' group. As the
description implies, the group have some pop elements but miss out on
others, and have never charted. Their early records (1982-85) for
labels like Whaam!, Creation, Rough
Trade, and Glass Records, had a raw and immediate
sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed all at odds with the time. But
an emerging fanzine culture identified with the group's sound and
image, and slowly The Pastels started to influence a new wave of
groups, which interested the NME and other UK media.
By now The Pastels were evolving and, although part of the
NME's C86
compilation, in interviews they always sought to distance themselves
from both twee and shambling developments. Their debut album, Up for a Bit With The
Pastels (Glass, 1987) was quite strange, moving from garage pop-punk
through to ballads with synth orch splashes. The follow-up, Sittin'
Pretty (Chapter 22, 1989) was
harder but less interesting. Reports started to appear in the UK music
press that the group was splitting up.
Eventually it became clear that a new line-up was configuring
around original members, Stephen McRobbie and Annabel Wright (Aggi),
now joined by Katrina Mitchell. This line-up is probably the best known
of The Pastels' various phases, and often featured either David Keegan (Shop
Assistants) or Gerard Love (Teenage
Fanclub) on guitar. They signed with the emerging Domino
Records and completed two albums, Mobile Safari (1995) and Illumination
(1997), which showed them developing an odd, particular sound -
melancholic and awkward, but warm and engaging. A remix set featured My Bloody Valentine, Jim
O'Rourke and others - Illuminati (1998). Their most recent
release is the soundtrack to David Mackenzie's The Last Great Wilderness
(Geographic, 2003), which, made for film or not, is one of the most
'complete' Pastels albums. It features a track recorded in
collaboration with Pulp's Jarvis Cocker. In 2006, The
Pastels developed and completed new music for a theatre production by
Glasgow based company, 12
Stars.
The Pastels now operate their own Geographic Music label through
Domino, and are partners in Glasgow's Monorail Music shop.
|
Contents
- 1 Members
- 1.1 Current
- 1.2 Former
- 1.3 Contributors
- 2 Discography
- 2.1 Studio
albums
- 2.2 Collections
- 3 External
links
|
Members
Current
- Stephen McRobbie (or Pastel) – guitar, vocals
- Annabel Wright (or Aggi) – bass, vocals
- Katrina Mitchell – drums, vocals
Former
- Brian Taylor (or Brian
Superstar) – guitar
- Martin Hayward – bass, vocals
- Bernice Simpson – drums
Contributors
- Gerard Love - guitar, bass
guitar
- Tom Crossley - flute, keyboards
- Norman Blake - guitar, bass
guitar
- Alison Mitchell - trumpet
- Colin McIlroy - guitar
- David Keegan - guitar
- Jonathan Kilgour - guitar
- Charlie Dinsdale - drums
- Francis McDonald - drums
- Chris Gordon - drums
- Michael
- bass
guitar
- Sandy Forbes - drums
- Dean Wareham - guitar
Discography
Studio albums
- Up for a Bit With The
Pastels (1987)
- Sittin' Pretty
(1989)
- Mobile Safari (1995)
- Illumination
(1997)
- The Last Great Wilderness
(2003)
Collections
- Suck on The Pastels
(1988)
- Truckload of Trouble
(1994)
- Illuminati
(1998)
External links
