Pinkshinyultrablast, Russia's finest export, have announced their third album Miserable Miracles, out May 4th digitally and on vinyl through Club AC30 (UK) and Shelflife (USA). The band have also announced an extensive UK tour to coincide this with the 10 year anniversary of their very first show.
With vocalist Lyubov recently moving to LA, the band have been exploring new ways of composing and collaborating. Partnered with a line-up refinement, the new material sees Pinkshinyultrablast venture down a more electronic path while experimenting with new sounds and genres (including inspiration from Japanese pop such as Chiemi Manabe and Yellow Magic Orchestra).
Originally hailing from a city more synonymous with the State Conservatory than a gang of shoegaze addicts, the band have nevertheless seen great critical and commercial success since their debut album Everything Else Matters and follow-up Grandfeathered. They've been compared to bands such as Lush but this is no mere throwback tribute - due to their sharp, icy electronics and ability to subvert the genre, bringing something new to the table. They possess not only the spirit of late 80s/early 90s British bands like Cocteau Twins, but also machine-made sounds of the same era from Sabres Of Paradise or Global Communication, not to mention wider vibrations like Cluster, Popul Vuh, Terry Riley and Philip Glass.
In February 2008 Pinkshinyultrablast played their first ever show at the Money Honey Club in Saint Petersburg and after spending the following years crafting their sound they were finally able to bring their unique project to the UK supporting Moon Duo at Village Underground and performing a session for Lauren Lavern at BBC6 Music.
On Miserable Miracles Lyubov's delicate vocals soar effortlessly above haunting ambience and ethereal embellishments complimented by driving motoric beats. Singles "In The Hanging Gardens" and "Find Your Saint" perfectly showcase the band's new, more electronic direction while retaining their signature quirkiness with layers of experimentation.
Elsewhere on the likes of "Dance AM" and "Triangles" retrocentric 80's production highlights newer synth-pop influences whereas tracks such as 'Blue Hour' and 'Earth and Elsewhere' are blissful synth-wave soundtracks which give the otherwise upbeat album space to breathe. Altogether the third album from the innovative trio is one that flows effortlessly as a continuous piece of work and reveals that even within a genre so widely explored, there's still room for modernization amongst those willing to push boundaries.
Pinkshinyultrablast are Lyubov - vocals, Rustam - synths and electronics and Roman - guitars.
supported by 8 fans who also own “Miserable Miracles”
phenomenal shoegaze from Russia with math-rock influences. the band knows when to let the dreamy, swirling vibes take over and when to hit the accelerator with punchy riffs. this one has been on constant rotation since I stumbled on it. vacant planet
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