In Ribbons

In Ribbons Artist: Pale Saints
Label: 4ad
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 5014436200427
ASIN: B00000B8VY


Release Date: 1992-06-02

In Ribbons


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General General
Categories | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie Rock Indie Rock
Categories | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Dream Pop Dream Pop
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Shoegazing Shoegazing
Categories | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Noise Noise
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General General
Categories | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock Pop Rock
Categories | Pop | Styles | Music
Rock Rock
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Pop Pop
Categories | Imports | Stores | Music

Tracks:

  1. Throwing Back the Apple
  2. Ordeal
  3. Thread of Light
  4. Shell
  5. There Is No Day
  6. Hunted
  7. Blue Flower
  8. Hair Shoes
  9. Babymaker
  10. Liquid
  11. Neverending Night
  12. Featherframe
  13. Thousand Stars Burst Open

Similar Items:

  1. The Comforts of Madness
  2. Ferment
  3. Whirlpool
  4. Just for a Day
  5. Souvlaki

Album Description

1992 album for the ethereal pop band formerly signed to 4AD. 12 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Taking shoegazing to a whole new level.......2006-10-12

IN RIBBONS was the second full-length album by Pale Saints, coming three years after their debut THE COMFORTS OF MADNESS. Here new guitarist and vocalism Meriel Barham joins first guitarist Graeme Naysmith, bass and vocalist Ian Masters, and drummer Chris Cooper. It's a superb album, one of my all-time favourite releases by the 4AD label, which has always had a high standard of quality.

The Pale Saints' first release had shown the then-trio to be firmly in the shoegazing camp, with lots of flange and mysterious production. But they stood apart from other acts for their outstanding musicianship. Sure, Naysmith's guitars were standard fare for shoegazing, but Masters' bass was refreshingly agressive, and Cooper's percussion ranks him up with David Narcizo as a master of indie rock drumming. Masters' voice, which floated high up like the tormented reincarnation of a Viennese choirboy, gave a highly individual touch. The songwriting was impressively strong too, with, for example, the changing times in "Time Thief" and the poignant lyrics of "Language of Flowers".

On IN RIBBONS, both of these elements are still present. The addition of Barham, however, makes for a fuller instrumental sound. At the same time, the production is remarkably less murky than on the first album, with Hugh Jones letting a bright, glittery sound come through compared to Fryer's dark and moody atmospheres on the first album. Most of the material is still contributed by Ian Masters. He provides vocals on all songs but three, and "Hair Shoes"--first heard as a chilling demo on the "Flesh Balloon" EP, now an awesome wall of sound-- and "Shell" seem to be entirely his idea. When Barham makes an appearance on vocals, in "Thread of Light", "Liquid", and "Featherframe" (possibly the most elegant song here) it is no jarring contrast, but a perfect harmony with existing tradition. The album famously closes with "A Thousand Stars Burst Open", a visionary track that subjects the sonic range of a jam band to the carefully considered structure of the Pale Saint's finest work.

As an additional fine feature of IN RIBBONS, one must mention the album artwork by the legendary designer Vaughan Oliver and his firm v23. The typography is based on that of the first album, but whereas v23 chose dark colours on THE COMFORTS OF MADNESS, we find rich yellow and white tones on IN RIBBONS that perfectly complements the luminosity of the sound.

If you like bands from the 4AD's middle period, such as Lush, Cocteau Twins, or heck, even Swallow, Pale Saints are sure to be a delight. And IN RIBBONS is one of their finest efforts, with remarkable staying power. Years after I've abandoned most of my 4AD collection, IN RIBBONS still gets a frequent listen.

5 out of 5 stars my fav of "shoegaze" genre.......2003-09-13

other than My bloody valentine, Medicine, and a couple Boo Radleys albums. I think I like this one best out of other Saint's albums but I like the other two too from what I've heard. For a sample of this one just check out "ordeal," "thread of light" "shell" or "throwing back the apple." I like them all really. The female vocalist feels like the calming gas they use at the dentist and the arrangements are very clever/varying/dreamy etc. This one's got a rich texture to itand it beats itself into your brain. Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Pale Saints' Best Album.......2002-10-18

If you've never heard Pale Saints, this is probably the best first album to get. It is the most accessible and etherial of the all, and the last album before a line-up change saw the departure of one of the founders of the band. This means that the Pale Saints of "Slow Buildings" is essentially a different band, and with lifeless songs.

The songs on this album work together to be more than just a collection of songs. Some may say that "The Comforts of Madness" is a better album, but I found that one not as well produced and the songs not as good compared to this one. On "In Ribbons," you have female vocals on several of the songs, which works very well with the etherial guitar arrangements.

Also, check out "Blue Flower," which the same song that Mazzy Star did on "She Hangs Brightly," but with a completely different, more etherial feel to it. However, the band sound nothing like Mazzy Star. If you like Lush and the Cocteau Twins, you should get this album.

5 out of 5 stars too smart for shoegaze.......1999-12-26

this breathtaking recording is probably the most worthwhile purchase any fan of cerebral yet unobtrusive music could make. overall, the mood of this record is more brooding and subdued than the playful optimism of their unlikely debut lp. high points include the nearly-terrifying "hunted", the gracefully awkward "ordeal", and the soothing "a thousand stars..." missing from the uk cd is their cover of mazzy star's cover of slapp happy's "blue flower", which is indeed enjoyable but not necessary. buy this cd and discover why pale saints did NOT deserve to be lumped in with such less-imaginative acts as ride. if you are interested in what ian masters (vocalist/bassist/main songwriter who left the band not too long after this record was released) has been up to, check out spoonfed hybrid (collaboration with chris trout of a. c. temple) and oneironaut (solo "electronica" project).

5 out of 5 stars The most beautiful rock album........1999-05-15

This album is the most spacial, artsy, atmospheric, album ever written. I saw them live at CBGB's about 4 years ago and live they are phenomenal.

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  3. Klaatu/Hope ~ Klaatu
  4. The Best of Marty Wilde ~ Marty Wilde
  5. Date With the Night ~ Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  6. Absurdistan ~ Laika & the Cosmonauts
  7. First It Boils, Then It Spills ~ Evil Queens
  8. Works in Progress ~ Tim Buckley
  9. Arachnoid
  10. Fiji Mariners ~ Fiji Mariners , and Col. Bruce Hampton

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The Clarke/Duke Project, Vol. 1 ~ Stanley Clarke & George Duke

Jimmy Giuffre with Jim Hall ~ Jimmy Giuffre & Jim Hall

Groovin' with the King ~ King Curtis

Moanin ~ Art Blakey

Love's Silhouette ~ Pieces of a Dream

Estos Es Bolivia ~ Jach'a Mallku

Hungarian Liberty Songs

Jo and Tuco: Voce E Eu ~ Jo de Souza & Tuco Freire

A Mi Manera ~ Marcos Orozco

Gift: Bluem of Xtra ~ Bluem of Youth