Madison, Wisconsin noise-rock duo Red Pants return with Pale Shadows, a fresh EP comprising five songs originally feared lost on a dead 2009 MacBook. Originally started during sessions for last years album Not Quite There Yet, these vivid and varied tracks highlight Jason Lambeth and Elsa Nekola’s boundless creativity and wonderful musical connection.
Opening instrumental To The Deep End finds the pair as locked in as I’ve heard them, holding tight with a beautiful fizzing fluidity. Proto Punk meanwhile goes hard, a breathless ninety seconds of pure fun that does exactly what it says on the tin, providing a solid shout for chorus of the year in the process.
Underneath The Sun is a woozy treasure, emotive and soothing in all of its electronic wonder whilst One More Ghost’s brooding atmosphere and snarling guitar lines entwine perfectly with Lambeth’s world weary vocal. Closer Sunset Hill sees the duo at their most serene, the subtlety of their playing evoking an all encompassing sense of calm.
As full hearted and free spirited as ever, Pale Shadows serves as both a soaring point of entry for the uninitiated and a fascinating and far reaching next step for long standing followers of this most special of bands.
Pale Shadows is out now and available to stream/download here.
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