Pale Blue Eyes, CIEL

Pale Blue Eyes @ The Bodega, Nottingham, UK, November 11, 2023,

Nov 18, 2023
By Dom Gourlay
Images by Adam Houghton
Net Unique

Being a long-standing advocate of all the time arriving early to observe the assist act, tonight’s openers CIEL show that time successfully. Taking part in a blistering set that encompasses post-punk, grunge, shoegaze and all components of guitar-based indie rock in-between, their repertoire strictly consisting of all killer, no filler. The Brighton-based trio – Groningen born singer/bass participant Michelle Hindricks, Spanish guitarist Jorge Bela Jimenez and English drummer Tim Spencer – have established themselves as one of the crucial thrilling bands on their native circuit for a while, and it’s simple to see why they’ve been tipped to breakthrough into extra mainstream territories by quite a few publications together with Below the Radar. Latest singles “Speak” and “Make It Higher” have each featured closely on the 6Music playlist and go down a storm right here alongside the opposite seven songs that make up this night’s set. Comparisons with Wolf Alice and he Breeders are evident, whereas excitable nearer “Tremendous All the pieces” strikes an identical chord to a lot of Hindricks’ fellow compatriot Pip Blom in its supply. By the top, there’s a sizeable crowd watching them which bodes nicely for the longer term.

If there’s a extra prolific band within the UK than Pale Blue Eyes proper now we’re but to see them. Not content material with releasing certainly one of 2022’s best debuts in Souvenirs, they’ve gone one higher with the exceptional follow-up This Home that’s positive to function on the high of many “Better of 2023” lists subsequent month. It’s additionally nice to see these songs come to life within the flesh, having given anybody that’s seen them at a pageant or two this summer time a sneak preview of what to anticipate. Taking part in as a four-piece tonight, with keyboard participant John Gooding becoming a member of the core trio of bass participant Aubrey Simpson alongside drummer Lucy and singer/guitarist Matt Board. Certainly, it’s in all probability honest to say their memorable slots at a number of festivals this summer time, whether or not it’s Glastonbury, Deershed, Get Collectively or numerous others, has undoubtedly reaffirmed Pale Blue Eyes as one of the crucial thrilling reside bands on the circuit proper now. “Psychedelic shoegaze you may dance to!” says one punter within the bar earlier than the present, they usually’re not improper.

Opening with “Takes Me Over”, the lead single from the second file which paves the best way for a full-on tour via This Home and its extra groove-laden moments. Whereas each “TV Flicker” and “Dr Pong” – the latter now moved to the center of the set somewhat than the normal nearer its been on earlier excursions – present transient reminders why so many individuals fell in love with this band within the first occasion, tonight is a celebration of This Home and every little thing contained inside it. “Extra” is arguably the poppiest quantity in Pale Blue Eyes ever-growing canon and its obtained with anticipated aplomb this night. “Simmering” and “Areas” additionally show why they’ve change into a number one title on everybody’s “should see” and “should hear” lists whereas the closing couplet of “Our Historical past” and “Sister” take us into Recurring-era Spacemen 3 territory through the outer reaches of Stereolab and Tortoise respectively.

With this and just about each different on this tour bought out prematurely, its extremely unlikely Pale Blue Eyes can be taking part in venues of this dimension subsequent time round. So, catch them whilst you can as they’re an unmissable drive to be reckoned with at current.