Nights, the debut EP from Pale, is a concise but atmospheric dreamgaze offering from London-based multi-instrumentalist Christian Lessells. Spanning just four tracks across thirteen minutes, the project wastes no time establishing a mood — one rooted in haze, warmth, and the soft pulse of late-night introspection.
The influences are easy to trace: I can hear shades of Khruangbin’s mellow, sun-drenched psych grooves, Slowdive’s washed-out guitars, Lush’s reverb-dipped dream-pop shimmer, and a hint of Cocteau Twins’ ethereal swirl. Lessells’ own gentle, muted, almost whispered vocals slot neatly into that lineage. His voice anchors the EP without ever overwhelming it, drifting through the mix like another soft instrument.
“Dreaming” sets the tone. Built on a droning, looping foundation, the track leans into repetition in a way that teeters the line between meditative and monotonous. Its steady, almost hypnotic groove creates a soft landing into the world Pale is crafting, perhaps of a world where everything is slightly blurred at the edges.
“Addict” brightens the palette, offering something more chrome-slick and shimmering. There’s a glitterpop sheen here, the kind you might expect from Men I Trust, with bass lines that glide and guitars that sparkle. It’s one of the EP’s most immediately appealing tracks, balancing sweetness with a subtle undercurrent of melancholy.
With “Not in Love,” Pale leans into dissonance. Guitars wobble just out of tune — almost certainly intentionally — adding tension to an otherwise simple chord progression. Paired with lingering, echo-washed vocals, the track becomes a study in emotional unease… perfectly aligning with its subject matter.
“Forever” returns to something more straightforward: a tender, earnest love song that smooths out the frayed edges left by the previous track. It feels like the band has let out a soft exhale; it nicely rounds out the EP with clarity and assurance.
Nights feels like the perfect soundtrack for stepping outside for a contemplative cigarette, or perhaps dissociating in a cool, cinematic way while taking a slow hit off a joint. It’s not the most groundbreaking dreamgaze release out there, but its simplicity works in its favour: a familiar, well-executed escape that lingers just enough.
Written by Krystal Camilla
