Ambition was never the Pastels' strong suit, and luck was rarely on their side; as the group's members -- now including bassist Martin Hayward and drummer Bernice Simpson -- devoted their primary focus to their studies, new music appeared only sporadically and to little notice, on a seemingly random series of labels. After 1983's "I Wonder Why" was released on Rough Trade, they moved to Creation, where they hit their stride with the 1984 drone-pop gems "Something's Going On" and "A Million Tears." After one further single, 1985's "I'm Alright with You," the Pastels split with Creation, moving to the tiny Glass label. In 1986, their track "Breaking Lines" appeared on the influential C-86 collection assembled by the New Music Express, transforming the anorak movement into an overnight media sensation quickly accompanied by intense critical backlash.
Regardless of prevailing musical trends, however, the Pastels soldiered on: after recruiting one-time Shop Assistants keyboardist Aggi Wright, they recorded the 1986 single "Truck Train Tractor," followed by Crawl Babies and Comin' Through. Finally, in 1987 the group found time to assemble an LP, Up for a Bit with the Pastels, followed in 1988 by Suck on the Pastels, a collection of unreleased Creation-era material. In 1989, former Vaselines frontman Eugene Kelly and ex-Shop Assistant David Keegan joined the fold for Sittin' Pretty, the final LP to include Superstar, Hayward, and Simpson. The remaining duo of Pastel and Wright expanded to include Katrina Mitchell for the 1991 collaboration Jad Fair and the Pastels, followed by the 1994 EP Olympic World of Pastelism. Their third album, Mobile Safari, was released in 1995 by Domino in the U.K. (which began a long-running alliance) and Up Records in the U.S. It featured a lineup including longtime band associates Norman Blake and Gerald Love (both from Teenage Fanclub) and ex-Shop Assistant guitarist David Keegan, and a guest appearance from Luna's Dean Wareham.
Their next album, 1997's Illumination, was issued by the same configuration of record labels and featured a similar lineup, only with the addition of guitarist Jonathan Kilgour and guest shots from Belle & Sebastian's Isobel Campbell and pianist Bill Wells. A remix album, Illuminati, was released in 1998 and featured reworks of tracks by Kevin Shields, Stereolab, Cornelius, and other A-list indie rockers. This burst of recognition and activity was derailed when Wright decided to leave the band in 1998, throwing Mitchell and Pastel into a spin. Instead of jumping back into making music right away, the band went on hiatus while figuring things out. The duo next formed Geographic Records in 2000 as an offshoot of Domino, and began releasing records by friends (Future Pilot AKA, International Airport) and obscure acts (Nagisa Ni Te, Maher Shalal Hash Baz.) The band reappeared at last in 2003 with the mostly instrumental soundtrack for the film The Last Great Wilderness. The album was produced by the Sea and Cake's John McEntire and featured International Airport's Tom Crossley along with a vocal feature for Jarvis Cocker. A friendship with Japanese band Tenniscoats led to their next release, 2009's collaborative effort Two Sunsets. The core band was expanded to include Crossley and Mitchell's sister Alison, with Love still there, too. With the record label slowing its pace and releasing one album a year, the band turned toward recording an album of their own, and in 2013 their fifth record, Slow Summits, was released. McEntire was again in the producer's chair and guitarist John Hogarty had joined the ranks. Also on board as guests were To Rococo Rot's Stefan Schneider and Robert Lippok, as well as Norman Blake (again), and original bandmember Annabel Wright. (c)Jason Ankeny
2) An American 50s pop group formed by Dee Irwin while he was serving in the military. Consisted of DiFosco "Dee" T. Ervin Jr. himself, Richard Travis, Tony Thomas and Jimmy Willingham. They toured widely until splitting up in 1959.
Cycle
The Pastels Lyrics
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Cycle paths broken glass
Where did all our summers go?
Boarded-up bars
Dull neon stars
A logging lorry lost its way
Guided by your sweet allure
Tender tasting wanting more
Don't sit in that empty chair
Where do melted icebergs go?
Barbon-dating beating time
Electric cars
Clashes on Mars
Charm me with your hostess calm
Lonely ripples wash the shore
Lazy on the beat and sigh
Promises on tips of tongues
Make a place that no one knows
Trickle sands between our toe
Unlearn what we think we know
Shield your eyes
Wishful sighs
The yellow sign says follow me
The Pastels’ song Cycle is a soothing melody that touches on themes of nostalgia, loss, and reflection. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of deserted cycle paths with broken glass, boarded-up bars, and dull neon stars that remind the singer of the disappearance of their youthful summers. The cycle paths echo with the sticky juices of melons that were once enjoyed, and where the melted icebergs go remains a mystery.
The singer treasures the moments of tenderness and sweetness shared with a loved one, who guides a lost logging lorry to them. The memory of that person’s allure is still palpable, and the singer yearns for more. A sense of loneliness and emptiness pervades the song, as exemplified by the empty chair, the lonely ripples that wash the shore, and the promises that are never fulfilled. However, the song ends on a hopeful note, urging listeners to unlearn what they think they know, to make a place that no one knows and to follow the yellow sign.
The lyrics of Cycle inspire contemplation and nostalgia, and the melody is perfect for introspection. The song is a reminder of how precious our memories are, how fleeting life can be, and the need to live in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Sticky melons juices flow
Fruits have ripened and the juices are dripping out of them, which is a reminder of the summer season.
Cycle paths broken glass
Bicycle paths are damaged and littered with broken glass, which could cause accidents for cyclists.
Where did all our summers go?
Time has passed very quickly, and the warm and sunny summers are a distant memory.
Boarded-up bars
The once-bustling bars and clubs are now closed and boarded up, which is a reflection of how the entertainment industry has changed over time.
Dull neon stars
The colourful and bright neon lights that used to adorn the city streets have lost their charm and are now dim and unimpressive.
A logging lorry lost its way
A huge vehicle used for logging has gone off course, representing how our lives can take unexpected turns and deviate from our intended path.
Guided by your sweet allure
Being drawn towards someone's alluring personality and charms can be a guiding force in one's life.
Tender tasting wanting more
The feeling of wanting more when something is just so good you can't get enough of it.
Only me that knows your there
Being in a special place that is known only to you and that you keep to yourself.
Don't sit in that empty chair
The loneliness felt when someone important to you is no longer there to fill the empty seat beside you.
Where do melted icebergs go?
The question of what happens to something when it melts, especially something as large as an ice shelf or iceberg.
Barbon-dating beating time
Two people who are happily in love and enjoying the experience, with the beat of their hearts in sync with each other.
Electric cars
The advancement of technology and how traditional cars are slowly being replaced by electric ones.
Clashes on Mars
A futuristic view of wars happening on other planets, which raises the question of whether or not humans will ever be able to live peacefully among one another.
Charm me with your hostess calm
Being attracted to the calm and composed demeanor of a person.
Lonely ripples wash the shore
The sense of loneliness and isolation one may feel when surrounded by the vastness of the ocean and the rhythmic sounds of waves.
Lazy on the beat and sigh
Feeling relaxed and at ease with oneself, yet longing for something.
Promises on tips of tongues
The temptation to make promises without truly intending to keep them, or being hesitant to voice one's true feelings about something.
Make a place that no one knows
Creating a sanctuary or personal space that is hidden from the rest of the world and known only to oneself.
Trickle sands between our toe
The feeling of sand trickling between one's toes while walking on the beach, which is a sensation that can be described as pure joy.
Unlearn what we think we know
The need to question one's preconceived notions and beliefs, and unlearning old ways of thinking that may no longer be applicable.
Shield your eyes
Protecting oneself from the harsh reality of the world and its negative effects on us, which can sometimes be overwhelming.
Wishful sighs
Sighing in longing for something or someone that is beyond one's reach or possibility.
The yellow sign says follow me
Being led by something or someone that catches one's eye and promises a sense of direction and purpose.
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.