Pale Saints began their existance as a three-piece ethereal pop band based in Leeds, England. Forming in 1987, the band was signed to 4AD records after their first London show by 4AD chief Ivo. Their first EP, Barging Into the Presence of God, was critically praised, but received minimal press, especially in the U.S.
The band's first album was recorded in 1990 and entitled The Comforts of Madness. Tracks from the album were separately produced by both John Fryer and Gil Norton
In late 1990 the band added Meriel Barham, the original Lush vocalist, as second guitarist and vocalist. Meriel added backing vocals and guitars to the Half-Life EP, then joined permenently for the Flesh Balloon EP.
In 1992 the band recorded their second full-length album, entitled In Ribbons. Produced by Hugh Jones, the album reached modest sales in the UK, but was largely ignored in the US. In this year they also recorded the Hugh Jones produced EP Throwing Back the Apple.
Ian Masters departed the band in 1993. By most accounts he became more and more disenchanted with pop music and wanted to go in a more experimental direction with minimal drums and ambient sounds. He also seemed to have lost all joy for touring and live performance. He subsequently began a collaboration with colleague Chris Trout which led to the group Spoonfed Hybrid. Spoonfed Hybrid recorded their self-titled debut album, produced by the band and Duncan Wheat, in 1993. Ian and Chris shared the vocal and songwriting duties, and also played all of the instruments. The album is somewhat sparse and quite experimental in comparison to the Pale Saints catalog.
Pale Saints added former Heart Throbs bassist Colleen Browne in 1993. They then wrote and recorded the EP "Fine Friend", which was produced by Hugh Jones and released in mid 1994. Following these sessions they returned to the studio to complete the fall 1994 album Slow Buildings, also produced by Jones. This album was almost universally less appreciated by critics and fans alike, who seemed to miss the unique qualities which Ian Masters brought to the band. The group toured Europe and the United States in late fall of 1994. Pale Saints eventually came to an end in early 1996, partly as a result of weak label support and relative disinterest.
Ian Masters has continued to create interesting and exiting experimental music. Spoonfed Hybrid released their second album, Hibernation Shock, in 1996. He has also teamed up with His Name is Alive auteur Warren Defever to release music under the name ESP Summer in 1994 and later.
In Fall 1998, Ian released a 7" under the name Friendly Science Orchestra entitled Miniature Album.
Ian's current projects can be viewed at The Institute of Spoons.
As to the other Pale Saints, the following information is available on 4AD's website at http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/4ad-l/whatever.html..PALEST
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Disbanded sometime after their Slow Buildings LP was released and not a commercial success, circa December 1996. Ian Masters had already gone onto Spoonfed Hybrid and projects with Warren Defever before this album. Ian Masters is now working on his Friendly Science Enregisterments label - see www.dfuse.com/spoons/ - as well as being a graphic designer for IPC magazines.
Other members of Pale Saints went onto other bands after they split. Colleen Browne said in April 1998: "I can tell you that Graeme Naysmith and Chris Cooper are still in Leeds and are currently in a band called Lorimer with their friend Phil Pettler, who was once in Leeds-based band The Edsel Auctioneer. I had stints in London-based bands Rialto (eastwest) and Warm Jets (Island) and am currently in an unsigned band called White Hotel with drummer Jean-Marc Butty, who played with PJ Harvey for 3 years during the To Bring You My Love period and singer/songwriter/guitarist Ken Low who has played on some Barry Adamson (once of The Bad Seeds) albums." Meriel 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" (2001) and the collaboration "Kuchen Meets Mapstation" (2003) with Stefan Schneider of To Rococo Rot (who also records as Mapstation).
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