The September Curated Issue 2025 - Pale Blue Eyes - 'New Place'

Pale Blue Eyes formed in Totnes, Devon, where Matt and Lucy Board began writing and recording in their home studio. From the outset, their sound was built around a fusion of hypnotic krautrock rhythms, shimmering synth textures, and heartfelt indie-pop songwriting.

Their debut album, ‘Souvenirs’ (2022), established them as one of the UK’s most intriguing new acts, earning comparisons to New Order, Stereolab, and Can, while still carving out their own emotional space. Follow-up ‘This House’ (2023) deepened the project, created against the backdrop of Matt’s father’s passing, blending grief with the transcendence of music.

By 2024, the pair relocated to Sheffield, a city with a storied electronic music history (think Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Warp Records). That geographical and cultural move is woven into the fabric of ‘New Place’ — not just in the sonic palette, but in the album’s very spirit of transition, renewal, and identity-seeking. The album takes inspiration from their Devon roots, the legacy of Sheffield synth-pop, and the resilience that comes from starting over.

Culturally, ‘New Place’ lands in a moment where music fans are searching for albums that balance nostalgia with modernity. Like contemporaries in the British indie-electronic landscape (Working Men’s Club, Nation of Language, Dry Cleaning), Pale Blue Eyes tap into retro textures without retreating into pastiche. Instead, ‘New Place’ feels contemporary and personal—resonating with a generation navigating uncertainty, climate anxiety, and cultural change, while holding onto the hope of continuity and belonging.

1. How Long Is Now

The album opens with a wash of synths and hypnotic rhythm, a nod to the Berlin graffiti slogan that inspired its title. It’s a statement of intent: reflective yet forward-moving. The song acts as a bridge between Pale Blue Eyes’ earlier work and the new optimism that defines this record.

2. Scrolling

Driven by motorik beats and winding synth lines, “Scrolling” addresses modern digital life’s relentlessness. It’s hypnotic but carries a subtle critique—showing Pale Blue Eyes’ ability to fold social commentary into dreamy indie-pop.

3. Pieces of You

This track stands out for its intimacy. Glistening guitars, a slow-build arrangement, and Matt’s heartfelt vocals create a sense of memory and longing. It’s deeply personal—reflecting on loss, but also the beauty of remembrance.

4. On the Surface

Here, the band leans into minimalist electronic textures. Pulsing synths build a soundscape that feels both calming and unsettling, evoking the fragile layers we show to the outside world compared to our inner lives.

5. The Dreamer

One of the more upbeat moments on the album. Its shimmering melodies and buoyant rhythms embody hopefulness, a sonic breath of air after the album’s denser early tracks. It’s no surprise this has been singled out as a lead track in live sets and reviews.

6. Travel Day

As the title suggests, “Travel Day” is about movement and dislocation. Its rhythmic propulsion mirrors the experience of journeys—trains, roads, flights—where reflection often collides with anticipation.

7. Rituals

“Rituals” marks one of the most atmospheric tracks, with layered synths and circular rhythms creating a trance-like feel. It evokes the idea of repetition as healing—the routines that tether us through grief and change.

8. Our Lost Words

Perhaps the emotional centrepiece of New Place. Incorporating the voice of Matt’s late grandfather, the track feels timeless, binding together generations. It has been described in early reviews as “hauntingly beautiful” and will likely resonate deeply with listeners who connect music to memory.

9. Now and Again

A meditative track, reflecting on the push-and-pull of permanence and impermanence. Musically, it slows the pace, offering listeners a contemplative pause before the final stretch of the album.

10. Be There (feat. Rachael Swinton)

A highlight collaboration. Swinton’s vocal textures weave beautifully with Pale Blue Eyes’ sound, adding depth and warmth. The message is simple but powerful: the importance of presence and connection in a world that often feels disjointed.

11. Half Light

Evocative of dusk, “Half Light” explores themes of transition—between day and night, life and memory. It’s understated but powerful, creating a soundscape of ambiguity and reflection.

12. Seven Years

Closing the album, “Seven Years” is anchored by Aubrey Simpson’s fretless bass, which adds a distinctive emotional texture. It feels like a summary of the journey—grief, resilience, memory, and renewal—and leaves listeners with a sense of resolution and forward momentum.

‘New Place’ is more than an album—it’s a document of survival, change, and creative reinvention. Where 'Souvenirs' and 'This House' charted memory and grief, ‘New Place’ is about finding light again. It captures the transition from Devon’s rural quiet to Sheffield’s urban energy, while never losing the personal intimacy that defines Pale Blue Eyes’ sound.

In the wider cultural landscape, the album stands as part of the ongoing resurgence of UK indie-electronica, drawing from Krautrock, shoegaze, and synth-pop, but always with an emotional immediacy that sets Pale Blue Eyes apart. For listeners, it’s an album that can soundtrack both solitary reflection and late-night drives—songs that are at once deeply personal and universally resonant.

In 2025, as indie-pop increasingly blurs lines between retro influences and futuristic production, Pale Blue Eyes has released a record that feels entirely of the moment. ‘New Place’ doesn’t just represent a new chapter for the band; it’s a reminder of music’s enduring power to help us navigate life’s biggest transitions.