I have written about this ep earlier here on Eardrums, but now I have heard it, and you really have something to look forward to. I loved their album, but this is even more my style. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound less fuzzy and even more pop than before on the “Higher than the stars” EP.  Don’t get me wrong, – this is very much the same The Pains of Being Pure at Heart that we know and love, but they have dared to do a few changes that really suit them.

The title track, “Higher than the stars”, is a loveable, dreamy popsong, – with quite smooth vocals, synth-strings and less guitars than we’re used to from this band. The fuzzy guitars are definitely present on the shiny “103″, my favourite, which reminds me of the “Ecstasy & Wine”-era of MBV. Super-melodic indiepop that seem to have been made for bikerides on a sunny day. “Twins” is also a quite guitar-driven song, more melancholic in a way, with very cool chords and an irresistable chorus. I would never imagine that I ever would hear a danceable disco song from The Pains, but “Falling Over” is just that. I’m set back to the early 80s, with catchy rhythm guitars and a Human League-esque “don’t you-, don’t you touch me”-chorus, – just lovely! “Falling Over” is very far from The Pains as we heard them on their self-titled debutalbum, but still, this is very much The Pains of being pure at heart.

The 5 track EP will be released on November 9 through Fortuna Pop, and while you wait, you can grab this St.Etienne-remix of the title track and listen, listen, listen, – while you tell yourself that the rest of the ep is so much better…

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Higher Than The Stars (Saint Etienne Visits Lord Spank Remix)