Pale Saints | |
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 Pale Saints performing live in 1990 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Leeds, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1987–1996 |
| Labels | 4AD |
| Past members | Graeme Naysmith Chris Cooper Ian Masters Ashley Horner Meriel Barham Colleen Browne |
Pale Saints were an English alternative rock and shoegazing band formed in 1987 in Leeds by singer-bassist Ian Masters, guitarist Graeme Naysmith and drummer Chris Cooper. [1]
The group began as a jangly indie pop band influenced by Primal Scream's early sound. By the time they recorded their first EP, Barging Into the Presence of God, released in 1989, the band went into a direction that displayed a mix of Ian Masters' ethereal, choirboy-like vocals along with dark atmospheric and noisy pop tunes. Ashley Horner from Edsel Auctioneer briefly joined the band on guitar in the same year. [1] The band was signed to 4AD Records after their first London show by the label's chief Ivo Watts-Russell. [1]
The group's first album, The Comforts of Madness , was released in 1990 and reached the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart. [1] The album's tracks were produced by John Fryer and Gil Norton. [2] The album includes a cover version of "Fell from the Sun" by Opal.
In late 1990, Meriel Barham, the original vocalist of Lush, joined the band as second guitarist and vocalist. [1] [2] Barham contributed backing vocals and guitars to the Chris Allison produced Half-Life EP, then joined permanently for the Nancy Sinatra cover "Kinky Love", which gave the band a minor hit single as part of Flesh Balloon EP. In 1992 the band recorded their second full-length album, In Ribbons, which was produced by Hugh Jones. [2] Ian Masters left the band in 1993, citing his lack of enthusiasm for touring, unlike the remaining members of the band and their record label 4AD. [2] Former Heart Throbs bassist Colleen Browne joined afterwards. [1]
Sticking with producer Hugh Jones, the group released the Fine Friend EP in mid-1994, followed by their third album, Slow Buildings. [2]
The group toured Europe and the United States in late autumn 1994. Their final studio recording was a version of "Jersey Girl" for the Tom Waits tribute album Step Right Up . Meriel Barham departed in September 1995, and the group eventually disbanded in 1996. [2]
In conjunction with the August 2020 Record Store Day release of the Japanese singles compilation Mrs. Dolphin on vinyl for the first time, Masters worked with director and Big Beautiful Bluebottle bandmate Terako Terao to make a video for "Sight of You." [3]
Guitarist Graeme Naysmith died on 4 April 2024. [4]
Masters continues to create music, often of an experimental nature. His first project after Pale Saints was Spoonfed Hybrid with former A.C. Temple member Chris Trout. [1] They released their self-titled debut album in 1993, and their second album, Hibernation Shock was released in 1996. In 1994, Masters, recording under the name Pail Saint, released the album Noise Bucket on Time Stereo, the label run by His Name Is Alive auteur Warren Defever. Masters and Defever then teamed up and began to release music as ESP Summer. [1] In autumn 1998, Masters released a 7-inch EP under the name Friendly Science Orchestra entitled Miniature Album, which became an NME 'Single of the Week'. As of 2005 [update] , Masters lived in Japan. His projects, including Wingdisk with Mark Tranmer of Gnac and The Montgolfier Brothers, can be viewed on his website, The Institute of Spoons.
Naysmith and Cooper formed Lorimer, [2] and later continued working together in the Leeds band The Terminals. The band released a single in December 2006, entitled "Dictator" on Double Dragon Records. The band changed their name again to Cyanide Pills and by 2011 had released five singles and one album on Damaged Goods Records. Naysmith and Cooper worked on a new project of atmospheric instrumental music under the name The Program. Naysmith soon formed The X-Rays Eyes, alongside Cooper's bandmate, Sy Shields. [5] Naysmith died on 4 April 2024. [6]
Barham has gone on to record melodic electronica under the name Kuchen. She has released two albums on the Karaoke Kalk label: Kids with Sticks in 2001 and the collaboration Kuchen Meets Mapstation in 2003 with Stefan Schneider of To Rococo Rot (who also records as Mapstation).
Horner is a film producer based in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Browne went on to play with Warm Jets, Rialto, [2] and White Hotel before briefly returning to Canada in 2001, then relocating to San Francisco in 2002. There she played with local rock noir chanteuse Rykarda Parasol, appearing on her Here She Comes EP and the Our Hearts First Meet album.
Lush were an English rock band formed in London in 1987. The original line-up consisted of Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, Steve Rippon and Chris Acland (drums). Phil King replaced Rippon in 1991. They were one of the first bands to have been described with the "shoegazing" label. Following the death of Acland, the group disbanded in 1996.
His Name Is Alive is an American experimental rock band/project from Livonia, Michigan. After several self-released cassettes, they debuted on 4AD Records in 1990, starting a long run at the label. Throughout the band's long history, leader Warren Defever has been the only constant member, with a variety of musicians and singers contributing over the years.
4AD is a British record label owned by Beggars Group. It was founded in London under the name Axis Records by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent in 1980 as an imprint of Beggars Banquet Records. The name was changed to 4AD after the release of the label's first four singles. Later that year, Watts-Russell and Kent purchased the label from Beggars Banquet to become an independent record label, and Kent sold his share to Watts-Russell a year later.
Ultra Vivid Scene was an American alternative rock band, started by Kurt Ralske.
Vaughan Oliver was a British graphic designer based in Epsom, Surrey. Oliver was best known for his work with graphic design studios 23 Envelope and v23. Both studios maintained a close relationship with record label 4AD between 1982 and 1998 and gave distinct visual identities for the 4AD releases by many bands, including Mojave 3, Lush, Cocteau Twins, The Breeders, This Mortal Coil, Pale Saints, Pixies, and Throwing Muses. Oliver also designed record sleeves for such artists as David Sylvian, The Golden Palominos, and Bush.
The Wolfgang Press are an English post-punk band, originally active from 1983 to 1995. The core of the band during that era was Michael Allen, Mark Cox (keyboards), and Andrew Gray (guitar). They reformed in 2024 with Stephen Gray, brother of Andrew, replacing Cox, to release a new LP titled "A 2nd Shape" on Downwards Records.
Ethereal wave, also called ethereal darkwave, ethereal goth or simply ethereal, is a subgenre of dark wave music that is variously described as "gothic", "romantic", and "otherworldly". Developed in the early 1980s in the UK as an outgrowth of gothic rock, ethereal wave was mainly represented by 4AD bands such as Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, and early guitar-driven Dead Can Dance.
Ian Masters is a multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/producer.
Livonia is the debut album by His Name Is Alive. It was originally released by 4AD on June 25, 1990, in the United Kingdom and in 1992 on 4AD/Rykodisc in the United States.
Home Is in Your Head is the second studio album by His Name Is Alive, originally released via 4AD in the UK on September 9, 1991, and on Rykodisc in the United States in 1992.
Ft. Lake is an album by His Name Is Alive, released by 4AD in 1998.
Always Stay Sweet is a compilation album by His Name Is Alive, released by 4AD on February 23, 1999.
The Edsel Auctioneer were a band formed in Leeds in 1988 by Ashley Horner, Phil Pettler, Aidan Winterburn and Chris Cooper (drums). They were named after the ill-fated Ford automobile whose front grille was supposed to have resembled a woman's pudenda. Best friends with Pale Saints, they lived on the same street in Leeds, Harold Avenue.
Christopher John Allison is a British record producer and founder head of Sonic360 Records. His work has been associated with artists such as The Beta Band, Coldplay, Walter Becker, Kinky, Plastilina Mosh, Emmanuel Jal, The Wedding Present and Shack.
Kendra Smith is an American musician who was a founding member of The Dream Syndicate, a member of Opal, and later recorded as a solo artist.
The Comforts of Madness is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Pale Saints. It was released on 12 February 1990 by 4AD.
In Ribbons is the second studio album by English alternative rock band Pale Saints, released on 23 March 1992 by 4AD. It peaked at number 61 on the UK Albums Chart.
Slow Buildings is the third and final studio album from Pale Saints, released by 4AD on 29 August 1994. This was the band's first album following the departure of original singer and bassist Ian Masters and addition of Colleen Browne on bass/vocals; guitarist Meriel Barham, who had joined Pale Saints for their previous album In Ribbons, also took over lead vocal duties. Slow Buildings features the single "Fine Friend". "Henry", "One Blue Hill", and "Angel ", were released as radio singles only.
Scar is a mini album by English rock band Lush. It was released on 9 October 1989 on 4AD. Originally intended to be a three-track single release, Scar was produced by John Fryer and the band themselves and recorded at London's Blackwing Studios in 1989.
Mad Love is the debut extended play by the English alternative rock band Lush. It was released on 26 February 1990 by 4AD. Produced by Cocteau Twins guitarist Robin Guthrie, Mad Love was composed of four tracks—including a rerecording of "Thoughtforms", a song from Lush's debut mini-album Scar (1989).
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