EP REVIEW: Pale Sailor – you’re not yourself

‘…something that could be truly special. Charm, levity, and genuine emotional weight are all present and accounted for…’

Based out of Sheffield, Pale Sailor are one of many bands that are rising up through the latest wave of the UK grassroots emo scene, alongside peers such as Student Slasher Film, danger dog, and Vienna. The three-piece released their debut single, ‘Half Alive‘, early last year, and have continued to carve out a place for themselves in the emo scene with each successive single, with a sound that carries both whimsy and heart in equal measure. That spirited approach to midwest emo is perfectly exemplified on the band’s brand new debut EP, ‘you’re not yourself‘.

‘shrimply the best’ is a punchy and brilliantly danceable cut that layers shimmering math rock licks against scrappy riffs and wickedly infectious percussive rhythms. ‘go ahead, play it, see if i care’ is a short but sweet bite of pop punk goodness, whilst ‘surface level’ wraps gritty riffs around a punchy baseline during scrappy verses, before unfolding outwards into catchy and surprisingly tender choruses. The bridge twinkles with glittering guitars that decorate swaggering rhythms.

It is closing track ‘willows‘, however, that serves as the highlight of the EP. Stretching out to a five minute run-time, this stunning, sprawling number sees the band flirting with grunge and shoegaze ideas alongside their typical midwest emo stylings. A gorgeous, intense instrumental midsection serves as a wonderfully unexpected change of tone and pace for the EP, crashing over the listener with a surprisingly cinematic power. All of this is unified beautifully Anya Bellamy’s vocals, which are brimming with a wavering, sentimental haze.

‘you’re not yourself‘ is the sound of a band with a lot to give, waiting to bloom into something that could be truly special. Charm, levity, and genuine emotional weight are all present and accounted for, with moments of playful guitar noodling offset by walls of grungy sound that crash down upon the listener; it is easy to imagine that a full length record from Pale Sailor could be something truly magnificent. Time will tell where this three-piece goes, but this debut EP is a great first step for all involved.

RATING: 76/100 – Mostly Very Good

For Fans Of: Re-read, Soot Sprite, Vienna, saturdays at your place, Origami Angel

Physical copies are available to purchase here.

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