There’s no telling what’s to come from musical collaborations, which I guess is the point. Sometimes they create enthralling fusions — De La Soul with Teenage Fanclub, Gorillaz, (hell, De La Soul with anyone) — and sometimes the results are tragic — David Bowie and Mick Jagger anyone?
When Glasgow”s The Pastels and Tokyo”s Tenniscoats joined forces, there was room for excitement. After all, The Pastels are considered the godfathers of twee, while Tenniscoats has a proven record of forging pop alliances for elegant albums. It sounds like a perfect match.
But it’s not. While Two Sunsets is not a stupefying disaster of pop minds, it’s not a stunning piece of work either.
It slumbers early on, dragging through a five-minute “Song For a Friend” that feels like forever. “Vivid Youth” awakens the album a bit, serving as an example of what The Pastels do best yet revealing little collaborative thought. While evidence of cooperation proves true as Sunsets progresses — “Boats” is a charming piece, while Sodone’s lilting guitar and Tenniscoats’ Saya Ueno’s playful singing highlight the best of both bands — too often the songs become background.
Maybe the bands spent too much time catering to one another (the album did take three years to make) instead of stamping Sunsets with a sole identity. The only defined track is not even their song. “About You,” a Jesus and Mary Chain cover, is a decent take but feels out of sorts — sounding like a late addition.
On their own The Pastels and Tenniscoats produce purposeful and dynamic music, but together they come across as muted and tame.
And the result is just, well, nice. Not bad, but then again not good.
