_edited.jpg)
Since their 2018 debut with ‘My Mind Makes Noises’, the Manchester-made indie rockers Pale Waves have challenged the music industry with every new release, taking a bold and refreshing approach to the rock genre as a whole. They’re never afraid to experiment with their sound on each new album, and all of this has given them a well-deserved rise through the ranks to become one of the UK's standout artists of recent years.
‘Smitten’, their upcoming fourth studio album, is no exception to this rule, delivering an emotional musical journey whilst still retaining the edgy sound we’ve come to expect and love from the band, accompanied by a classic 90's rock vibe. This 90's influence is immediately apparent before you even listen to the album, as the cover is reminiscent of scenes from such iconic sitcoms as 'Friends'. All of this, paired with amazing instrumentals and Heather Baron-Gracie's melodic vocals, feels like we’re being transported back in time and really adds to the whole tone of the album making it a truly immersive experience.
‘Glasgow’ opens the album with a catchy upbeat riff, giving off a real mix of energy that can be best described as witchy indie, and reminds us of yet another 90s classic 'The Craft' and its iconic soundtrack where this would have fit right in. The track features a cheerful sound despite the otherwise solemn message behind the song pointing to a failing love and the slow and painful acceptance of its end. This gives a taste of what you can expect from the rest of the album, which delves even deeper into the band's experiences with life, relationships and a continued exploration into their proud queerness - whilst not shying away from opening themselves up to their fans, more so than ever before. These themes continue throughout the album as each track delivers a variety of raw emotions, where a deep yearning and grief are both prevalent in many of the tracks lyrics, but also a great sense of love and hope are mixed together which makes it feel as if we are on this journey with them, navigating each complex emotion together one track at a time.
‘Gravity’ is a particularly strong track from early in the album, that touches on queer relationships and a person's or their families beliefs stopping them from being who they truly are, loving who they want to love, and the struggles that presents to the people involved. ‘Thinking About You’ is another standout, with an almost ethereal sound and heavy reminders of Alanis Morissette throughout, as it delves into coping and moving on from a love you never thought you’d lose in this soft and impactful track. ‘Last Train Home’ marks the halfway point for the album, giving one of the most emotional deliveries of the entire album so far as it recounts a one-that-got-away scenario. ‘Slow’ brings this album to its bittersweet finale, giving us a departure from the rest of the album's themes, as it delivers a glimmer of hope and the idea of the blossoming of a new love and all of its apprehensions in a light, melodic end to the album.
Upon the first listen, there’s no doubting this is an excellent album reaching out strongly to their LGBTQ+ fans especially, each track is well executed and written to tell a story that although deeply personal is one we all have shared and can relate to in our own way. You can feel the passion and every raw emotion, good or bad, that has been poured into this album - with it's fresh sound which wouldn’t have any track out of place in a soundtrack to a 90's show or movie, each consequent listen resonates more than the last, making it easy to get pulled in and lost over and over again. It’s a memorable experience for fans and new listeners alike from start to finish and marks yet another high note for Pale Waves. The future is clearly very bright for the band!
You can catch Pale Waves on tour between the 3rd and 17th of October across the UK.
'Smitten' will be released on September 27th via Dirty Hit Records.
Words: Arcadia Craven
Photos: Kelsi Luck
Comments