Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 01/16/1996
Run Time: 37:59
On
Mobile Safari,
the Pastels stretched out to an American audience with their calm and reflective style of blissful
indie pop.
Stephan Pastel remained the band's primary songwriter, while
Katrina Mitchell (drums) and
Aggi Wright (bass) began to contribute more this time around.
Mitchell sings bittersweet and awkward lead vocals on
"Mandarin" and
"Token Collecting." Her untrained crooning is part of the allure of her songs.
Wright leads on vocals on the festive
"Yoga" and composed the
instrumental "Mobile Deli." Pastel leads the way on the rest of the songs with his dry and deep vocal style. His delivery speeds up from its normally sluggish pace on the toe-tapping
"Classic Line-Up" and
"Strategic Gear." He collaborated with former member
David Keegan on
"Exploration Team" and
"Flightpaths to Each Other." The whole trio of
Pastel,
Mitchell, and
Wright collaborated on the disc's final track, the sublimely cool and horn-filled
"Worlds of Possibility." Gerard Love added guitar and vocals to some of the tracks, while
Luna's
Dean Wareham also appeared as a guest guitarist.
Mobile Safari was recorded at
CAVA Sound Workshops and
Stuffhouse Studios, both in the band's home of Glasgow, Scotland. Seattle's
Up Records released the disc in 1995.
~Stephen Cramer, All Music Guide
;)
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