The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart have had quite a run over the last eighteen months. They released their self-titled debut last February to universal acclaim, racking up features in magazines like Spin, Rolling Stone and NME, earning Best New Music status from Pitchfork, and touring the US and Europe non-stop. They began 2010 with a month-long tour of Japan, New Zealand and Australia, and wrapped it up with a series of west coast dates with label-mates Weekend and a triumphant return to England.

All the while they've been working on new songs, releasing the Higher Than The Stars EP last fall, the excellent single Say No To Love this past June, and beginning work on their eagerly-anticipated second album. To help bring this new batch of tunes to life they've enlisted the help of producer Flood (Smashing Pumpkins, U2, PJ Harvey) and ace mixer Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Arctic Monkeys). The result is a massive sounding album, sonically ambitious but still grounded in the peerless song-craft that The Pains are known for.

Heart In Your Heartbreak is the first preview from the new album, and it's a perfect snapshot of where the Pains are headed in 2011. An infectious slice of chunky power-pop with a great beat, sweeping synths and well-placed guitar jangle, it's immediately obvious that the new production team has brought out the best in the band. It's pure Pains all the way, but bolder, louder and more confident. On the flip, non-LP track The One is a classic-sounding rocker that would sit just fine next to Teenage Fanclub on any well-compiled mix tape. All in all a superb single and a great taster for that second album Belong, scheduled for release in March 2011.