PALE SAINTS – THE COMFORTS OF MADNESS LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK 1990  INDIE ROCK SHOEGAZE 4AD

Pale Saints – The Comforts Of Madness
(4AD Records  1990  CAD0002)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing

Textured Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
– a little wear to edges
Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are some light surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

Pale Saints were an English alternative rock/shoegazing band formed in 1987 in Leeds by singer-bassist Ian Masters, guitarist Graeme Naysmith and drummer Chris Cooper.

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 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 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. Ian Masters left the band in 1993. Former Heart Throbs bassist Colleen Browne joined afterwards.

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

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.

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.”

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. 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. 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, 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, 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 are currently working on a new project of atmospheric instrumental music under the name The Program.

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, 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.

The Comforts of Madness is the debut studio album by British alternative rock band Pale Saints, released through 4AD on 12 February 1990. It peaked at number 40 on the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Pale Saints (Chris Cooper, Ian Masters, Graeme Naysmith), except where noted.

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

• Pale Saints (Chris Cooper, Ian Masters, Graeme Naysmith) – all instruments
• John Fryer – production (on 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10), engineering (on 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10)
• Gil Norton – production (on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11)
• Al Clay – engineering (on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11)
• Tim Davis – engineering assistance (on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11)
• Richard Hermitage – manipulation
• Vaughan Oliver – art direction, design
• Chris Bigg – art direction assistance, design assistance
• Sarah Tucker – cat photography
• Bleddyn Butcher – group photography