Like a secret club that everyone is invited to, The Pastels are an intimate affair. Slow Summits may have taken a little while to materialise but it was worth the wait; a band on top of their game and still freshening up their sound. With John McEntire on the boards and some great guest appearances across the instrumental spectrum, the 9 songs here sparkle and tug at the heart. There are some great up-beat moments, most notably the single “Check Your Heart,” but it’s really the bright, sunset-lighted, lush moments that last longest in the listeners’ mind. A welcome back to some good friends.