Pasteboard is a Japanese shoegaze side project formed by Igarashi Makoto and Tanoue Mihoko of the Indie-pop band Roly Poly Rag Bear. Pasteboard came out with their first and only album “Glitter” on December 21, 2005, and in the 18 years since then, it has become a cult classic, mostly from its resurgence online, it feels like everyone has a different story on how they found the album. Recently, Glitter received a reissue by the record label “7th heaven” as well as a deluxe edition released in April of 2023. The release included a Vinyl that sold out in just a few hours, showing the dedication of Pasteboard’s fan base. Although none of the songs from the deluxe edition will be covered here if this album piques your interest I strongly recommend checking out the new material as it contains some excellent tracks including a personal favorite snowsheep.
Glitter’s strong suit is the atmosphere it creates through the songs. The most consistent theme of discussions and reviews of this album is the comfortable and calm vibe it brings. Personally, this album gives off the atmosphere of a place that you haven’t been to but is somehow familiar. It’s hard to describe but it’s something that I’ve rarely felt from other records. The entire record has an aura of familiarity that makes it seem like something you heard a long time ago in a dream.
Glitter kicks off with “Breakbeats” giving a taste of what the album has to offer with its loud guitar and subdued drums. The song’s lyrics talk about a person who uses their hands to break something over and over again giving the song its repeating lyrics which makes the song feel like an endless loop of breaking over and over again. The lyrics could very well become annoying but instead, it gets the point of breaking over and over again across perfectly and emotionally.
The next highlight on the record is “Flipper” which for me always stood out for its drums. It probably has some of the most simplistic and repetitive drums I’ve ever heard. On this entire album guitar is the main focus but only on this song the drums are the only thing that I can pay attention to. This song is beautiful and is the first song that comes to mind when I think of this record.
The final song I want to highlight is “Starcharts”, the final song on the album. This is the heaviest song on the album with louder distortion, Faster guitar, piano, and vocals that are mixed with guitar to make dreamy distorted vocals. This is the perfect sendoff to the album using the low energy the album has had and making it a sendoff that feels like the record has been building up to. The lyrics are unfortunately hard to translate and don’t make any sense with the limited translation Google can provide but I think the song is about waiting to see a meteor shower, which fits with the vibe of the song feeling melancholic like you’re waiting for someone.
This album is a masterpiece and I cannot recommend it enough. It has a powerful emotional edge despite its language barrier. Its cult fan base ensures that this record will live in the hearts of thousands for years to come, it’s a truly unforgettable record that needs to be heard by more people.
