
With his 2021 self-titled debut, Andy Pastalaniec’s Chime School became one of the defining acts of the seemingly never-ending, prolific and multifaceted Bay Area pop scene. His sophomore LP, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel, is set for release on August 23 on Slumberland Records. Recorded by Pastalaniec himself, in his home studio on the foggy southern edge of San Francisco, Paisley Hotel sets a moodier tone; slowed and patiently unfolding in moments that highlight an evolution in songcraft, production and arrangement–while still bouncing along with the jangling drive Chime School fans have come to adore.
As its title implies, 30-plus years of UK indie pop’s deeper cuts are voraciously mined and refined on the 11-song release that fans of East Village, later Teenage Fanclub, and maybe even Northern Picture Library’s Alaska will devour. “The Girl Who Runs The Beat Hotel was certainly a main influence for the album title, along with The Boy With the Paisley Shirt (TVPs), The Boy With the Arab Strap (B&S), the Boy With Perpetual Nervousness (Feelies), Paisley Underground generally, and my friends in Bay Area DIY, Paisley Shirt records. So many things; a real mish-mash. Kind of like Chime School in general, it seemed fitting“.



