It’s taken six years, three EPs, two twelve inch split singles and a handful of appearances on compilations for Detroit based Pas/Cal to finally release their very first LP, ‘I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura’.

I first came across Pas/Cal in 2003 at ‘A New Architecture’ one of the better indie nites in Toronto at the time. I got to know one of the DJ’s and he lent me a copy of their first EP ‘The Handbag Memoirs’, consisting of upbeat pop gems like ‘The Bronze Beached Boys (Come On Let’s Go)’ and ‘I Wanna Take You Out In Your Holiday Sweater’. I remember asking him what their name was and all I heard was ‘Pastel!!’ over the loud music and beer-clogged ears. I stumbled away confused thinking he was talking about ‘The Pastels’ as they are more of a melancholic synth band. I was tempted to send a drunken email to Stephen Pastel saying ‘You’ve changed man, it used to be about the music’ but luckily the DJ was kind enough to clarify the name and handed over a copy of the EP.

Subsequent EP’s,’Oh Honey, We’re Ridiculous’ and ‘Dear Sir’ followed in 2004 and 2006 respectively. Both of them were Viktically acclaimed but they always left me wanting more, like that half eaten packet of Whoppers I just stole from my coworkers drawer.

When Pas/Cal announced they were releasing a full LP earlier this year, the news was almost bittersweet as I’ve been waiting for this news for a long time, but at the same time weary of the fact that they may not have it in them to create a full album of stand out tracks.

Although I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura constitutes Casimer Pascal and Co.’s trademark high pitched vocals and up-tempo ’60s pastiche, after a few listens you’ll feel this LP isn’t something you can just throw on in the background while you’re doing something, you’ll need to sit back and pay attention to the story it has to tell. From the opening track IWROMMLL rocks and bounces along at an unpredictable pace but beneath the surface it compels the listener to pay attention every chord struck and word sung during it’s whimsical journey.

There is a track on IWROMMLL called ‘Ballad Of The Ignored’. Perhaps a cheeky attempt at an apology for making fans wait so long for a full length album, but it’s really not necessary guys, I for one am glad you took your time.

4.5/5

I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura is available July 22 on Le Grand Magistery Records

1. The Truth Behind All The Vogues She Sold
2. You Were Too Old For Me
3. We Made Our Way, We Amtrakked
4. Summer Is Almost Here
5. Glorious Ballad Of The Ignored
6. O Honey, We’re Ridiculous
7. Dearest Bernard Levine
8. Little Red Radio
9. Cherry Needs A Name
10. Cherry Tree
11. O My Cherry
12. Citizen’s Army Uniform