Pillow Talk Pine

• 1Dolya04:04
• 2Viable03:00
• 3(Un) Rest04:00
• 4Jilt04:48
• 5Blue Jacket06:02
• Total Runtime21:54

Info for Pillow Talk

The Ottawa post-punkers have a unique blend of emo-meets-shoegaze that’s as refreshing and cathartic as it is nostalgic – like putting on your favorite emo record from high school as an adult and relishing in the complicated teenage emotions you’ll never be able feel again.

"Ottawa’s Pine have created an incredibly cathartic yet soothing release with their newest EP, Pillow Talk, all while carving out their own space in the quickly growing emo/shoegaze genre. Vocally, these five emotional songs are incredibly soothing and sonically, they’re mellow and reverb-heavy but with a hint of pop that sets Pine apart from the pack and easily transports you into their world.

Heartbreaking opening track, “Dolya” really sets the tone of longing for the rest of these songs, easing you into the album with inviting yet raw vocals and sleepy guitar work. Quickly, Pine assures you that they’re not a one trick pony though, as the second track, “Viable” is a bit more upbeat, swapping heavy reverb for a more distorted sound. “Viable” makes for a perfect snapshot of Pine’s sound, with nods toward the opening track with mellow verses but keeps things interesting with a more upbeat chorus.

Thankfully, Pine seem to know how to balance the sleepy, melodramatic tones with catchy hooks that’ll stop things from feeling stagnant. Because of this, the difference between “Viable” and the emotionally vulnerable “(Un)rest” is a bit drastic. It might take you a moment to adjust to the change in tone and tempo between songs, but where Pine shine in the songwriting on “Viable,” they also know how to make a sleepy song like “(Un)rest” work with strong lyricism.

The band really shines on fourth song, “Jilt” as well, which changes mood and tempo without missing a beat. Then comes the final acoustic track, which nearly feels reminiscent of City And Colour’s earlier work, teasing listeners with yet another side of Pine before things come to an end. By this point, it’s impossible not to feel something while listening to these powerful songs. Lyrically, Pine really lay it all on the line and the songwriting just amplifies these emotions, making for a very powerful release, despite the mellow tones." (Shannon Shumaker)

Pine

Pine
The three-song debut leans towards the more demo side of the indie spectrum led by the beautiful soft voices of Darlene Deschamps and Christina Leigh. This is no surprise considering the band’s name PINE derives from the verb, to pine. Pining is defined as “to suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart” and “miss and long for the return of.” you bury me brings the listeners through a quick but diverse journey from yearning and sadness to desire and love.

PINE has a nice full sound as the guitars, bass and drums meld graciously with the keys and the two different vocalists. The second song, “father​/​/​layla” is a truly beautiful yet gut-wrenching song. The first half of the song is a daughter singing her love for her father, a champion of the cold. The verse ends with “love you till the end, love you until you’re frozen, love you until we’re underground. cause daddy, you’re always stronger to me.” Next up is a father hoping he could be closer with his distant daughter, “You told me you admired my patience, well I’ve waited for you for years. And I’ve only felt you in bits and pieces. Let me feel you as a whole. Let me see what you have hiding in your soul.” This is a very different kind of love song, father to daughter sang by a woman, but it tugs at your heartstrings nonetheless.

This album contains no booklet.