PRETTY PREACHERS CLUB - ROMANCE AND ADOLESCENCE EP
After capturing hearts with their debut ep Going Nowhere Fast, Pretty Preachers Club are back with their second EP, Romance and Adolescence; a candid and comforting insight into the hearts and minds of one of Glasgow’s newest and most wholesome indie-pop duos.
After capturing hearts with their debut ep Going Nowhere Fast, Pretty Preachers Club are back with their second EP, Romance and Adolescence; a candid and comforting insight into the hearts and minds of one of Glasgow’s newest and most wholesome indie-pop duos.
Romance and Adolescence gives us everything we loved from it’s predecessor – it shares the same lo-fi vibes, with silky vocals and dreamy synth – but with a slightly more vulnerable edge. Despite only being four songs long, it beautifully encapsulates what it’s like to be a young person with so much love and passion to give, in a world that sometimes doesn’t appreciate it.
The first track, ‘Ask If I’m Okay’, wouldn’t feel out of place in a John Hughes movie. The mix of synth and piano chords, blended perfectly with understandably pessimistic lyrics, makes for a really bittersweet, catchy opening track. The staccato and repetitive rhythm in the chorus paired with lyrics describing a boring, suffocating life that you feel trapped in, makes for a lovely bit of musical symbolism. ‘Ask If I’m Okay’ is a welcome show of solidarity about the struggles of being young and wanting more.
‘Ask If I’m Okay’ is followed by ‘Love in London’. The opening guitar riff gives the song an exciting, albeit vulnerable bedroom-pop sound from the get-go, which fits the lyrics so well. This song describes the elation and the pain of being in love, with a really satisfying rock edge to it, which really kicks in at the beginning of the second chorus. This pairs well with the honest and raw vocals. It’s full of anguish and adrenaline without losing the gentle vocals that we have come to know.
The next track, ‘Just Tell People How You Feel’, follows ‘Love in London’ so complimentarily, taking the painful edge off in a really sweet way. It’s a gentle and simple reminder to be honest and candid with your emotions. It’s short, to the point, and the combination of lead vocals and acoustic guitar gives the impression that you are being directly spoken to. The ending is particularly poignant – it fades out carefully, layering the guitar with flawless vocal runs that are so classically Pretty Preachers Club. This song is the musical equivalent of a perfectly made cup of tea after a long cry.
This ep is rounded off so brilliantly with ‘Drive’. This song is reminiscent of The 1975 with a chocolatey base line and impeccable harmonies, finishing with guitar solo. It’s easy to imagine ‘Drive’ being played at a Pretty Preachers Club gig, with the guitar solo being hotly anticipated by a crowd. It feels like the song where everyone would put their phones down, breathe, and enjoy the music.
Listening to a Pretty Preachers Club song feels like being at a cosy sleepover with them after midnight, pouring out your feelings to trusted ears. The world should be excited to see what these two do next.
Abbie McClaren
★★★★☆