Pale Blue Eyes – Dream On

The third album from Pale Blue Eyes is called ‘New Place’ — invocation of fresh horizons; swapping creamy Devon for the synth central of Sheffield. The album arrives on the back of extensive and emotional transit. For PBE, 2024 started with a wonderful tour of 12 European countries with Slowdive. Over 12,000 kilometres. Snow and deep cold in Norway and Poland. Drought-stricken landscapes in France and Spain. On and on, joyously so. 

The year’s end brought more movement for the married couple at the core of Pale Blue Eyes, singer and guitarist Matt Board and drummer and synth queen Lucy Board. Sadly, family tragedy catalysed a move from South Devon to South Yorkshire. “Change is a theme throughout the album,” says Lucy, “It’s about being in a new place, starting again but reflecting on the journey and what and who got us to this place. It’s a celebration of making it to this point and starting again.” 

That new start is fully manifested on Pale Blue Eyes’ new album, released on the band’s Broadcast Recordings label. Return single “How Long Is Now” brought uplifting synth carousels and was titled after a Berlin mural and art installation. On “Pieces of You”, gorgeously deliquescent guitar ripples out over Matt’s distinctive tenor voice. “Be There” is meditative, delivate, with guest vocals from Racheal Swinton of Glasgow electronic-rock duo Cloth. Aubrey made his own fretless bass which features on “Seven Years”.

“The new album comes with a new landscape,” says Matt…“I hope the result is uplifting. The album reflects the end of an era and embracing new beginnings. But when we were unpacking in our new house in Sheffield we found an old slide projector that had belonged to my mum and Dad. We spent hours looking through the old 35mm slides and decided to use one for the album cover. The album arrives on the back of extensive and emotional transit, a record of time reflecting on a lifetime of memories – but now beside a world of new beginnings.”