This House, the recently released second album from Devon three-piece, Pale Blue Eyes, is a blissful and candid examination of grief and the shape it can give to our lives. But shining just below the surface of its rose tinted shoegaze and synth pop, there is an exuberant jubilation felt in the simple act of breathing in the here and now. It is a record that is equal parts dancing shoes and comfort blanket.

In an attempt to glean some insight into what makes the group tick, we recently chatted to the band’s Lucy Board about her favourite tracks of the moment. 

Cloth – Low Sun

Cloth recently released a new album, Secret Measure, that we’ve been listening to on repeat. As a precursor to that album, they had a gorgeous EP at the end of last year. Title track, Low Sun, is one of my favourite songs of recent years – a perfectly crafted and beautifully sung piece of music that I can listen to again and again. It’s one of those tracks I need to put on every so often to just steady myself and calm down. Our first ever Pale Blue Eyes London gig was opening for Cloth at The Social in London a few years ago – lovely people making lovely music.

Slowdive – Kisses

Another lush track I’m listening to loads at the moment. It’s the rich enveloping sound that Slowdive do so well. When I first heard Kisses, it was like being reunited with an old friend. In June, we supported Slowdive in Exeter over the Glastonbury weekend. It was a really special gig for us – we’d played Glastonbury the day before, and then we’d bobbed out of the festival to get over to Exeter to play this sold-out gig with a band we’d admired for years. Such a great night. More recently, we played at the same event as them, Ypsigrock, in Sicily, and their set just felt like a dream. That led to me revisiting their 2017 album and obsessing again over the track, Slomo.

Public Service Broadcasting – Blue Heaven

An epic tune with an incredible vocal. I think I heard this on the radio during lockdown for the first time and instantly had to look it up. Fast forward a year or so and Public Service Broadcasting invited us along to support them for their entire UK tour in October 2022. We couldn’t have asked for a more amazing experience – playing the biggest venues and to the biggest crowds we’d ever experienced. I remember sitting in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh up high on a balcony hearing this track live and it felt magical. They totally blew the roof off.

W.H. Lung – Pearl In The Palm

This is such a tune! And this band is one of my absolute favourite live bands around at the moment. Their live show is so euphoric, driving, epic and full of awesome synth and guitar tones. Such a tight unit. I remember seeing them at Sea Change a good few years ago now and just being mesmerised.

Nabihah Iqbal – Dreamer

I’ve been listening to Nabihah Iqbal’s album, Dreamer, a lot recently – it’s a kind of cool fusion of genres that I really love. The texture and mood created in this track and across the whole album is dreamy and emotive. I can’t remember exactly how I discovered it but I’ve been listening to it loads lately. I’m hoping to catch her live later in September. 

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