All I Know Is That You're Perfect Right Now

The sound of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart self-titled debut album is totally familiar but totally awesome.

Opening track Contender draws the listener in with a trial of warm distortion, jangly guitars and delayed vocals before the pop perfection of Come Saturday and Young Adult Fiction use off kilter boy/girl harmonies and thumping toms to great effect.

While every track on the album sounds kind-a the same it is small variations that keep it interesting This Love is Fucking Right! is a speed up tale of incest (and a nod to The Field Mice’s This Love Is Not Wrong) while The Tenure Itch scratches all the right places.

Teenager In Love: sweeter that an sugar glazed candy centred lollipop with sprinkles, leaves you a tooth ache that is only slightly relieved by the albums weakest track Hey Paul before the tumbling closer Gentle Sons.

They (1,2,3,4,5) said it is not be possible to review this album without playing spot the obvious influence; I agree: My Bloody Valentine, Jesus And Mary Chain, Ride, The Smiths, Lush, The Pastels, Teenage Fanclub.

Come Saturday (on Friday)

New York band The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are one of the leaders in the current shoegaze revival (nu-gaze – yuk!).

Playing dream-pop with influences that touch on a million of my favourite bands The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are hard not to love, you can listen for yourself with this week’s Friday Freebie: Come Saturday is taken from their self-titled debut album and can be downloaded here.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart is out now in the US, international release dates will come later in the year.