Make no mistake this band is most surely the Newportian pop quintet called The Vestals. Little over a year into their gestation and they have not only produced their debut double A-sided single Perfect Pain/Seventeen, but in one fell swoop have also single-handedly achieved their stated ambition of creating big pop songs with guitars. They have three guitars to be precise and the instruments combine, cascade and shimmer on the lead record Perfect Pain over a nagging, contagious beat with a comfort and joy which give lie to the song’s title. Drawing heavily upon the tried, tested and trusted influences of The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen, Johnny Marr and even a little My Bloody Valentine, the song’s obvious derivations should not detract from the fact that this is a very catchy little tune indeed. They then conjoin it with the symphonic surge of Seventeen and in so doing The Vestals just may well have got themselves something here.
The single is launched at London’s The Social on 16th February though you can catch them either side of this date on a UK tour supporting Pure Love and Turbogeist.
Released 11th February 2013
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