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Music Editorial

I’m very much part of the “Yes, why don’t we judge a book by its cover” school. I’ve actually bought books in Waterstone’s solely because my heart was claimed by a piece of artwork (and who doesn’t love a bit of Maeve Binchy?). But such an approach is open to peril. When I first clocked Pale Waves a year or so ago I thought: striking looking, but they’re obviously in thrall to the kind of doomy goth sound that could frighten spiders - and that only leaves me cold. But not so! They do have some dark atmospherics – admittedly – but they’re more funky pop than anything else with a lot more in common with, say, Taylor Swift, than The Mission. They’ve released an increasingly fabulous series of singles and EPs that I’m certain are going to be mere cherries on the cake that is their album, which is out in September. I’ve not yet heard it but I can still give you a full and in depth review: 5 stars.

Pale Waves, Saturday 22 September, The Boiler Shop, Newcastle, 7pm, £13. boilershop.net