Over the course of a decade, Pale Waves have developed a large fanbase thanks to their pairing of ‘80s-inspired synthy indie-rock with a cool, grungy aesthetic. Their fourth album doesn’t do away with this formula but it does offer a twist, taking their sound in a softer, more outwardly pop direction. As its title suggests, ‘Smitten’ could easily serve as the soundtrack for a heartwarming queer coming-of-age love story.
Glasgow sets the tone with Heather Baron-Gracie’s wistful, longing vocals and accompanying punchy guitar riffs culminating in a pretty, dreamy mix. Not A Love Song picks up the pace a little bit with its cheeky, fun lyrics. “I bet you’re out at the bar and you’re talking to boys,” Baron-Gracie sings. “I bet you’re trying not to think about the sound of my voice.”
While there are plenty of moments that lean into the hazy atmosphere of Pale Waves’ past work — such as the stunning Thinking About You, where the vocals mesh with the layered instrumentals perfectly — much of ‘Smitten’ is saccharine and sentimental.
There are proclamations of love, like Last Train Home’s reverential treatment of “the one that got away”, and the pleading Kiss Me Again, where Baron-Gracie proclaims “it’s going nowhere” before adding “just want attention and your touch”. This is a nice moment of nuance and realism on an otherwise very lovey-dovey album — while not romantic in the way the other tracks are, Pale Waves appreciate these moments for what they are and write about them with a refreshing frankness.
‘Smitten’ is a very cohesive and beautifully put together album, showcasing Pale Waves’ ability to ebb and flow within different genres whilst remaining true to the sound they’ve become known for. It’s also sickly sweet, which is more divisive.
Pale Waves Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu October 03 2024 - NORWICH Waterfront
Fri October 04 2024 - LIVERPOOL O2 Academy Liverpool
Sat October 05 2024 - MANCHESTER Various Manchester Venues
Sun October 06 2024 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Tue October 08 2024 - BRIGHTON Chalk
Wed October 09 2024 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Thu October 10 2024 - SHEFFIELD Foundry
Fri October 11 2024 - DUNDEE Fat Sams
Sun October 13 2024 - GLASGOW SWG3
Mon October 14 2024 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Boiler Shop
Tue October 15 2024 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Thu October 17 2024 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
Fri October 18 2024 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
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