Ferment | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
Studio | Monnow Valley Studio, Rockfield, Wales | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 57:10 | |||
Label | Fontana | |||
Producer |
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Catherine Wheel chronology | ||||
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Singles from Ferment | ||||
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Ferment is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, released in 1992 by Fontana Records. [1] Produced by Tim Friese-Greene and John Lee, the album combined aspects of shoegazing, alternative rock and neo psychedelia. Ferment is the only album to contain the neo psychedelia element of the band's discography. Their next album, Chrome , produced with famed alternative rock producer Gil Norton, shifted the musical direction of the band. While Ferment was originally not all that successful in the charts, the album continues to be well received by critics and fans, even 30 years after its release.
Four songs from the album – "Shallow", "I Want to Touch You", "She's My Friend" and "Salt" – had previously appeared on independently released 12" EPs, and were re-recorded for inclusion on the album.
The album's lead single, "Black Metallic", reached No. 9 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and its video earned heavy rotation on MTV. [2]
Limited numbers of the UK version came with a three-track live EP, recorded at Bath Moles Club on 6 November 1991. [3]
The album was reissued in March 2010, containing bonus tracks (including the 1992 30th Century Man EP and both sides of the "Balloon" single) and extensive sleeve notes.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Select | 4/5 [5] |
PopMatters described Ferment as "the band's most unique record". [6] Trouser Press wrote: "With soaring choruses and producer Tim Friese-Greene's shimmering textures, the entire album—both delicate and demonstrative—sparkles and smolders." [7]
In 2016, Pitchfork ranked the album at No. 23 on its list of "The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time", with reviewer Ben Cardew commenting that "a good half of the songs on Ferment [...] are enduring shoegaze-disco classics, while 'Black Metallic', in its full seven-minute glory, makes a strong claim to being the genre's 'Stairway to Heaven'." [8] In 2017, Paste ranked the album at No. 6 on its list of "10 Shoegaze Albums for People Who Don't Like Shoegaze". [9]
All tracks are written by Rob Dickinson and Brian Futter
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Texture" | 4:19 |
2. | "I Want to Touch You" | 4:40 |
3. | "Black Metallic" | 7:18 |
4. | "Indigo Is Blue" | 5:31 |
5. | "She's My Friend" | 4:16 |
6. | "Shallow" | 3:28 |
7. | "Ferment" | 5:10 |
8. | "Flower to Hide" | 4:43 |
9. | "Tumbledown" | 4:08 |
10. | "Bill and Ben" | 4:09 |
11. | "Salt" | 5:26 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "Balloon" | 3:56 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Shallow" | 3:27 |
2. | "I Want to Touch You" | 5:58 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Salt" | 6:39 |
Catherine Wheel were an English alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, releasing five full-length albums in their career, embarking on many lengthy tours and experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success. Their early music was associated with the shoegazing scene, but gradually evolved to a more aggressive style influenced by hard rock and metal. Initially receiving attention and success after releasing their debut album Ferment in 1992, the band achieved peak success with the release of "Crank" and their album Chrome in 1993. The band also achieved minor success with other albums, including Happy Days, which featured a popular song "Judy Staring at the Sun" as a collaboration with Tanya Donelly. Catherine Wheel also scored heavy rotation on MTV and performed there several times. Despite never having any albums or songs that achieved major success in their homeland, Catherine Wheel continue to be popular among alternative rock and shoegaze fans and critics.
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