It’s not mentioned that often in paragraphs written about this wonderful Leeds outfit but ‘Mrs. Dolphin’ is one of the finest early EP retrospectives that you’re likely to find (‘Ten Rapid’ being another). The Pale Saints were the poster kids for shoegaze in the early nineties and their ‘The Comfort of Madness’ one of the best records of the genre. The band were characterised by their dynamic instrumental turns and Ian Master’s fey vocals. Though at times reminiscent of both Ride and My Bloody Valentine the Pale Saints were responsible for a clutch of remarkable songs that were uniquely theirs. If you are unfamiliar with ‘Throwing Back The Apple‘, ‘Language of Flowers‘ or ‘Sight of You’ then you are missing out. ‘Colours and Shapes’ may have being a less off-kilter number but it nonetheless highlighted the bands gift for a good tune which was forever present despite the attentions of the discordant riffage that often accompanied it. One can only imagine how many Swedish upstarts have this playing on their turntables at the moment while they tune their instruments. KD
The Pale Saints – Colours and Shapes
Watch The Video To Throwing Back The Apple
More Info: (Un)Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Pale Saints
Year: 1990
Wow! This is great. For some reason I thought these guys were a lot more abrasive.
One of my favourite Pale Saints tracks – though my version came on a free tape with a fanzine whose name I forget right now. I could go in the loft to check, but it’s cold up there.
What a sweet tune, I never could figure out what shoegaze meant. That helps a bit, xoxo!