Jump to content

Pale Saints

From Alfawiki
Pale Saints
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1987 in Leeds, England
FounderIan Masters, Graeme Naysmith, Chris Cooper
Defunct1996
Headquarters
Leeds
,
England
ProductsAlternative rock and shoegaze music albums and singles

Pale Saints emerged as an English alternative rock and shoegaze group, established in 1987 in Leeds by vocalist and bassist Ian Masters, guitarist Graeme Naysmith, and drummer Chris Cooper.

History

Drawing early inspiration from Primal Scream, Pale Saints transitioned from a jangly indie pop style to a fusion of Ian Masters' delicate vocals with moody, atmospheric pop elements. This evolution was first evident on their 1989 EP, Barging Into the Presence of God. That same year, guitarist Ashley Horner briefly joined the lineup. Following their initial London performance, they secured a contract with 4AD Records, signed by label head Ivo Watts-Russell.

Their first full-length album, The Comforts of Madness (1990), produced by John Fryer and Gil Norton, entered the UK Albums Chart top 40 and featured a rendition of Opal’s "Fell from the Sun." Later in 1990, Meriel Barham, previously of Lush, became part of the band as guitarist and vocalist. She contributed to both the Half-Life and Flesh Balloon EPs—the latter containing a modest UK charting cover of Nancy Sinatra's "Kinky Love."

1992 saw the release of their sophomore album In Ribbons, with production by Hugh Jones. In 1993, Ian Masters departed due to his unwillingness to tour; bassist Colleen Browne took his place. Maintaining their collaboration with Jones, Pale Saints issued the Fine Friend EP in 1994 along with their third album, Slow Buildings. That year also included tours across Europe and the United States.

Their last studio contribution was a cover of "Jersey Girl" for the Tom Waits tribute compilation Step Right Up. After Meriel Barham left in 1995, Pale Saints dissolved in 1996.

In August 2020, coinciding with Record Store Day’s vinyl release of the Japanese singles compilation Mrs. Dolphin, Ian Masters partnered with director Terako Terao to produce a video for the track "Sight of You".

Guitarist Graeme Naysmith died on 4 April 2024.

Post-band projects

Following Pale Saints, Masters pursued experimental music ventures, forming Spoonfed Hybrid alongside Chris Trout from A.C. Temple. Their self-titled debut appeared in 1993, followed by Hibernation Shock in 1996. In 1994, under the pseudonym Pail Saint, Masters released Noise Bucket on Warren Defever’s Time Stereo label. He also collaborated with Defever as ESP Summer. In 1998, Masters released the Friendly Science Orchestra EP Miniature Album, which earned NME’s 'Single of the Week' accolade. By 2005, he was based in Japan and involved in projects such as Wingdisk (with Mark Tranmer), showcased on his site The Institute of Spoons.

Naysmith and Cooper formed Lorimer, which later evolved into Leeds-based band the Terminals; they released the single "Dictator" in 2006 through Double Dragon Records. By 2011, renamed Cyanide Pills, they had put out five singles and an album via Damaged Goods Records. Additionally, they produced ambient instrumental works under The Program. Naysmith also co-founded X-Rays Eyes with Sy Shields from Cooper’s other band. Naysmith passed away on 4 April 2024.

Meriel Barham moved into melodic electronica as Kuchen, issuing two albums on Karaoke Kalk: Kids with Sticks (2001) and Kuchen Meets Mapstation (2003), a collaboration featuring Stefan Schneider from To Rococo Rot.

Ashley Horner shifted his career to film production based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Colleen Browne performed with Warm Jets, Rialto, and White Hotel before relocating to San Francisco in 2002. There she collaborated with rock noir artist Rykarda Parasol and recorded with The Wronglers, a traditional ensemble led by Warren Hellman, founder of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival.

Members

  • Graeme Naysmith – guitar (1987–1996; deceased 2024)
  • Chris Cooper – drums, percussion (1987–1996)
  • Ian Masters – vocals, bass guitar (1987–1993)
  • Ashley Horner – guitar (1989)
  • Meriel Barham – vocals, guitar (1990–1995)
  • Colleen Browne – bass, vocals (1992–1995)

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • Mrs. Dolphin (January 1991), a Japanese compilation featuring the Barging Into the Presence of God and Half-Life EPs alongside the tracks "Colours and Shapes" and "A Deeper Sleep for Steven"

Singles, EPs, and demos

  • "Children Break" (1988)
  • Barging Into the Presence of God EP (September 1989) reached #3 on the UK Indie Chart and #135 on the UK Singles Chart
  • Half-Life EP (October 1990), includes an additional spoken-word track titled "Colour of the Sky"; peaked at #86 on the UK Singles Chart
  • "Kinky Love" (1991), released as a 12" under the title Flesh Balloon EP; attained #72 on the UK Singles Chart
  • "Porpoise" (1991)
  • "Throwing Back the Apple" (May 1992), reached #93 on the UK Singles Chart
  • Fine Friend EP (August 1994)
  • "Fine Friend" (1994), US promotional release featuring a live acoustic version of "One Blue Hill"
  • "Angel (Will You Be My)" (1995), US promotional single

Video releases

  • "Time Thief" (1990)
  • "Half-Life, Remembered" (1990)
  • "Kinky Love" (1991)
  • "Blue Flower" (1992)
  • "Throwing Back the Apple" (1992)
  • "Fine Friend" (1994)
  • "Angel (Will You Be My)" (1994)
  • "Sight of You" (2020)

Various artists compilation appearances

  • What Feet – featured track "Wasting My Time" (1988)
  • Diamonds and Porcupines – demo version of "She Rides the Waves" (1988)
  • Gigantic! 2 – included "A Deeper Sleep for Steven" (1990)
  • Indie Top 20 Vol. VIII – contributed "Sight of You" (1990)
  • Music for the 90's: Vol. 2 – edited version of "Time Thief" (1990)
  • Peel Session – featured "Time Thief" (1990)
  • Indie Top 20 Vol XI – included "Half-Life, Remembered" (1991)
  • Knowing Where it All Leeds – track "Two Sick Sisters" featured (1991)
  • ...and dog bones, too – contained "Neverending Night" (1992)
  • Lilliput – multiple songs including "Throwing Back the Apple" and "A Thousand Stars Burst Open" featured (1992)
  • Precious – included "Kinky Love" (1992)
  • 4AD Presents The 13 Year Itch – demo of "One Blue Hill" included (1993)
  • All Virgos Are Mad – featured "Fine Friend" (1994)
  • No Balls – included "One Blue Hill" (1995)
  • Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits – cover of "Jersey Girl" featured (1995)
  • Joyride – included "A Thousand Stars Burst Open" (1997)
  • Dr. Martens Shoe Pie – featured "1000 Stars Burst Open" (1997)
  • 1980 Forward – included "Sight of You" track (2005)

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Pale_Saints&oldid=82230"