Spirit Goth is becoming a very reliable excuse for adding another name to my listening pile. This time it’s Pale, the solo project of London musician Christian Lessells, whose new EP Idols brings together the synthwave and dream pop sounds I find so difficult to resist. This is Pale’s first appearance on Static Sounds Club, so a wee introduction is in order. Lessells plays multiple instruments and has been releasing music under the name since 2021, when ‘Made For You’ appeared. ‘Stuck’ followed in 2024, with ‘Nothing’ and ‘Heavenly’ arriving through Spirit Goth later that year. His debut EP, Nights, came out in October 2025, establishing a longer format for his songs about love, longing and the complications that accompany both. Just over a year later, Idols gives us four more reasons to get acquainted.
That earlier history also offers some useful context for the emotional concerns of this release. On ‘Stuck’, Lessells had already addressed dependence within a relationship and the difficulty of accepting its end. Those subjects continue to occupy him here, with romance gradually giving way to heartbreak across the EP.
‘Fool’ opens proceedings with exactly the sort of bedroom pop that keeps me coming back to Spirit Goth. The combination of synthwave and dream pop feels beautifully suited to Lessells’ voice, which has a breathy, romantic quality that makes the song feel personal from the outset. His delivery sits comfortably within the surrounding textures, bringing a human closeness to the electronic elements. I’m particularly taken with how naturally these elements belong together. The synthwave character gives the track its atmosphere, the dream pop sensibility supplies that lovely melodic warmth, and Lessells sounds entirely at home within it. As an introduction to the EP, it makes a very persuasive case for staying with him.
The guitar takes a more prominent role on ‘Just Come And Get Me’, introducing a bright, jangly sound that immediately gets things moving. As the drums arrive and the bass pulses underneath, the arrangement gains a satisfying physical rhythm. Then comes the little stop and start before the chorus, a detail I particularly love. That interruption gives the hook a clear point of arrival, making the title phrase all the more effective when it comes around. The production deserves attention here too. There’s a richness to it all, with the jangle remaining distinct within the fuller arrangement. Lessells has a good feel for giving a pop song both immediate charm and enough detail to keep your ears occupied.
What sounds to me like a Wurlitzer organ introduces ‘She Loves Him’, offering a different starting point before the guitars arrive. Their glistening tone adds a lovely delicacy, and the combination gives the song a tenderness that suits its subject. We’ve moved into heartbreak now, with the romantic feeling of the opening song becoming resignation at the loss of someone loved. That change makes the beauty of the arrangement particularly affecting. Each pleasing instrumental detail accompanies a feeling you might recognise from your own life, when affection continues after the possibility of a relationship has gone. The guitars give you something to enjoy on an immediate level, while the emotional situation encourages a more reflective listen. It’s the track I’ve chosen for my November DKFM show, and it feels like a fine introduction to the sensitivity in Lessells’ songwriting. I’m looking forward to sharing this one with you.
For the closing ‘Fade Away’, the rhythm settles into a half time feel and the bass steps forward. Those big sliding notes give the song a distinct character of its own, with the slower pace allowing you to appreciate their tone and the space between them. The words return to the end of a relationship, accompanied by a melody that feels uplifting and full of affection. The guitar work is especially absorbing here. A chiming lead line remains clear within layers of reverb, while the surrounding guitar textures take on the sustained quality of synth pads. It’s a gorgeous way to finish, with enough space for the sadness and the beauty of the song to register together.
Across these four songs, Idols moves from romantic closeness towards the experience of losing it, maintaining a melodic warmth that makes the whole EP a pleasure to return to. Lessells gives each arrangement its own point of interest, whether that’s the vocal softness of ‘Fool’, the well-judged pause in ‘Just Come And Get Me’, the keyboard opening of ‘She Loves Him’ or the expressive bass of ‘Fade Away’. Those details make the release feel considered, and the songs themselves make it easy to care. Give this a little of your time, particularly if your tastes run towards jangling guitars, gentle vocals and pop melodies with an ache. Pale has made a lovely first impression here at Static Sounds Club, and Idols gives us plenty to admire.
Idols is out now via Spirit Goth. You can check it out over on the Pale Bandcamp page.
You can follow Pale on social media here…
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