Pale Saints

Pale Saints was formed in 1987 by Ian Masters (bass/vocals), Graeme Naysmith (guitar), and Chris Cooper (drums) in Leeds, England. 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' 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. The band was signed to 4AD Records records after their first London show, by the label's chief Ivo Watts-Russell.

The group's first album, The Comforts of Madness, was released in 1990, and reached the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart. The album's tracks were produced by John Fryer and Gil Norton. 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.Barham contributed backing vocals and guitars to the Half-Life EP, then joined permanently for the Nancy Sinatra cover "Kinky Love", which gave the band a minor hit single, and the Flesh Balloon EP. In 1992 the band recorded their second full-length album, In Ribbons, which was produced by Hugh Jones. Ian Masters left the band in 1993. Former Heart Throbs bassist Colleen Browne joined afterwards.

Sticking with producer Hugh Jones, the group released the EP Fine Friend in mid-1994 followed by their third album Slow Buildings.

The group toured Europe and the United States in late autumn of 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.



Discography
Albums
* 1990: The Comforts of Madness
* 1992: In Ribbons
* 1994: Slow Buildings

Compilation album
* 1990: Mrs. Dolphin (Japanese release containing "Barging into the Presence of God" and the "Half-Life" EPs with the tracks "Colours and Shapes" and "A Deeper Sleep for Steven")

Singles/EPs/demos
* 1988: "Children Break"
* 1989: Barging into the Presence of God EP
* 1990: Half-Life EP (12" contains a bonus spoken-word track "Colour of the Sky")
* 1991: "Kinky Love"
* 1991: Flesh Balloon EP
* 1991: "Porpoise"
* 1992: "Throwing Back the Apple"
* 1994: Fine Friend EP
* 1994: "Fine Friend" (U.S. promo including "One Blue Hill" live acoustic @ KCRW)



Colours and Shapes - Unofficial Pale Saints site

Pale Saints on MySpace

The National on WNYC's Soundcheck Live

The National on WNYC's Soundcheck:
Live from the Greene Space (April 26, 2010)

Ciccone Youth - Macbeth