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The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Totally Dublin
July 2007
The prodigal sons return.Way back in the early 1990's The Pale was the band of the moment, when the carbon footprint of the London A&R departments rose dramatically over Dublin and deservedly so.Killer tunes like I Am The Butterfly and Dogs With No Tails were pop nuggets and the 4 piece duly landed a deal with A&M, had hits in Ireland, France and Turkey with the above, and a hit album Here's One We Made Earlier. Unfortunately it never really happened beyond that but their unique sound that incorporated mandolins, guitars, a slew of ethnic instruments and electronic percussion never dated so maybe now is their time.Whatever the career intentions it's clear Matthew Devereux (vocals) and Shane Wearen (Mandolin) are having fun with their music.The Contents Of A Shipwreck is a party album of sorts; full of colour with infectious melodies and dance beats that sound like The Beat covering Tom Waits all underpinned by Devereux's sharp lyrical style. Always one of the most literate and outspoken of Irish writers Devereux shines again with aselection of urban tales swathed in a quasi marine/religious shtick that allows him to indulge in lyrical flights of fancy while digging his angst-dripping knife into the soft underbelly of contemporary Ireland.Wearen's playing throughout is a joy as is the superb contribution of Colm Quearney (a.k.a Q) on guitars and bass, the two providing the main rhythmic thrust of a record that calypso's over the Caribbean seas down to the tango waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The overall effect can be quite theatrical at especially when the gypsy rhythms don a Nick Cave cloak of darkness as on the scurvy ridden Steadfast Captain and the superb, sultry highlight Joan Of Arc On Broadway.An album packed with singles - Elizabeth In Rags, The New Resistance, Church Of Bones et al - The Contents Of A Shipwreck is a welcome return by an oft missed, much needed band.
John Brereton
The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Hot Press
31st of May 2007
Back in the 1990s,The Pale were hailed as Ireland's next big thing, adored for their quirky blend of European rhythms, mandolins, a drum machine, bald heads, a bag of esoteric tunes and Matthew Devereux's distinctive vocals.Frustrated by record company woes, among other things,it didn't last and they called it a day.Now, with an album deal under their belts, the core twosome of Devereux and Shane wearen are back in earnest,supported by a revolving line-up that includes guitar maestro Colm Quearney.
Regular jaunts to the Balkans have turned them on further to the ethnic music of the region, while the band also continue their love affair with ska and reggae.The trailer single 'Elizabeth In Rags' is a bit of a Dexy's-style knees-up, driven by Wearen's mandolin and it works well, while the disturbing 'Steadfast Captain' would fit snugly in the Leonard Cohen canon (and that's meant as a big compliment).
Musically it's impressively diverse.There's the lilting reggae of the title track, a tune called 'Church Of Bones' which is as bluegrass as Kentucky, while the sumptuous 'Joan Of Arc On Broadway' is achingly beautiful in a sultry Brechtian kind of way.Meanwhile, there's a hint of foreboding about 'The Serpent Song' in which Devereux waxes lyrical about not going into the forest and staying"out from under those dark canopies".While there's nothing likely to eclipse the might of 'Butterfly' or 'Dogs With No Tails',There's a sturdiness to the new material that wasn't as evident the first time around.File under Welcome Back.
7 out of 10
Jackie Hayden
The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
The Star
June 6th 2007
The title of The Pale's first album in Donkey's years may sound a tad sombre, but rest assured that the contents here are more sunken treasure thanwashed-up wreckage.
The lads-now reduced to a duo-have a devoted following built up since they formed back in 1990.
The long-awaited comeback proves more than worthy of their legacy and continues their love of 'ethnic fusion' and the sounds of ska. This is a more diverse Pale however,with stylistic leaps throughout,from the beautiful 'Joan of Arc on Broadway' to uplifting single 'Elizabeth In Rags'.
It's good to have them back, even if they never really went away.
4 out of 5 Stars
The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Metro Magazine
30th of May 2007
As the cult duo behind early 1990s hits Butterfly and Dogs with No Tails, Matthew Devereux and Shane Wearen always walked the line between quirky popsters and inane novelty group.
Now they're back, with a new album and a new, more sophisticated sound.Devereux in particular, seems to have renounced the role of zany entertainer,emerging as a singer of unexpected depth and nuance.
This is clear from the single Elizabeth In Rags, a brisk folk tune that sees Wearen thunking his mandolin as if it were a heavy metal guitar and Devereux delivering a stark vocal.
Later, they slow the tempo-The New Resistance is the sort of wrenching, torch song you may have believed The Pale entirely incapable of writing.As comebacks go,then,The Contents Of A Shipwreck is one of constant, delightful suprise.
4 out of 5 stars
Eamon de Paor
The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Lonesome Highway Magazine
Volume 2 Number 8
July 2007
The Pale are back with a new album that adds even more to their reputation. It has a more understated sound from the trio who mix acoustic instruments with a fuller band sound that is,sometimes, rounded out by trumpet, keyboards and whistles.
The songs are literate and lyrical, tinged with theatricality.The title track has a nice reggae lilt that makes in immediately memorable. Another highlight is the European touches on Joan Of Arc On Broadway.
This is an album that should be investigated if one not strictly within this magazine’s remit, but that hasn’t stopped us recommending albums in the past.
Stephen Rapid
BUY THE SINGLE HERE
Elizabeth In Rags
(1969 Records)
Hot Press
18th of May 2007
1969 Records seems to be becoming a home for unappreciated Irish musical gems, and The Pale sound as though they’re revelling in working alongside Couse and Pugwash. Unlikely to bother the mainstream in a million years, ‘Elizabeth In Rags’ is still an old school Irish indie belter and proof that there’s life in some of the old dogs yet.
Phil Udell
BUY THE EP HERE
Beyond the Pale (Bewleys Cafe Theatre Dublin) March the 2nd 2006
Irish Independent
Day and Night magazine
Date:March 10th 2006
Title:Beyond the Pale
Venue:(Bewley's Cafe Theatre Dublin)
4 out of 5 stars
The Pale could easily be mistaken for a novelty band. They dress theatrically and grin broadly when performing, as though being on stage, playing their songs, was the most fun in the world.Many years ago, they went so far to score a novelty hit, a ditzy ode to self-discovery called Butterfly. Naturally, many people assumed - and continue to assume - the Dublin group to be cute, quirky and not to be taken seriously.These people couldn't be more wrong, of course. The extrovert trappings are an unnecessary distraction; there is nothing daft or silly about the Pale. In fact, they write extravagant torch songs, full of heartbreak and crushing melancholy, but also excuding an insatiable hunger for life. It is not by coincidence that their lynchpin is mandolin player Shane Wearen- his crackling fretwork has the frantic energy of a small tornado.That the Pale are still around will be news to many. They apparently petered out in the 1990's, killed off by the rise of Britpop and record company difficulties. Recently, Wearen and frontman Matthew Devereux re-convened with the intention of making the definitive Pale album. They stepped back into the public gaze last summer, supporting Antony and the johnsons in Dublin. The Pale very nearly blew Antony off stage- he later joked of wanting to become the group's singer.One of the purposes of this concert is to road test new material (former Lir guitarist Colm 'Q' Quearney is along to fill out the band's sound). The venue, above the old Bewleys coffe house, is, by tradition, a cabaret room. Short of the trio playing in your kitchen, it is hard to conceive of surroundings more intimate.Small venues often faze musicians who do not relish looking their audience in the eye. The Pale embrace the cosy setting. Devereux, a flinty Dub with a super-sized personality, appears particularly chuffed to be here. One imagines those years in limbo, when he dreamed of putting the Pale back together again. He has the air of a person whose dearest wish has come true. It probably has.Some of the current songs feel like short stories set to music; several are nakedly political. A few reject the conventions of pop entirely, seeming to collapse into the listener's arms in an exaggerated swoon.The Pale are gracious enough to disinter Butterfly and Dogs With No Tails, another old hit. They don't need to. The new stuff sounds even better.
Ed Power
The Good Ship Sets Sail
As Legendary Irish Group Look Beyond The Pale
By Kevin Mcguire - The Galway Advertiser...
The Pale formed in 1990 featuring Matthew Devereux (vocals), Shane Wearen (mandolin), and Sean Molloy (bass). Their debut album Why Go Bald? was self-financed and led to a cult following. For their second album they received a loan from U2 manager Paul McGuinness and thus Happy Ring House continued their upward climb. Within a year they had signed to A & M Records and had massive success with singles 'Butterfly' and 'Dogs With No Tails'. In particular 'Dogs With No Tails' was a top 10 hit in Ireland, Turkey, and Israel.
In 1996 following legal difficulties with the record label Devereux and Wearen formed the group Produkt and released new material under many different guises. Towards the end of last year The Pale returned with their much-anticipated The Final Garden EP.
"The whole independent approach to the recording has been rewarding," says lead vocalist Devereux. "Unfortunately though Wendy, the greyhound featured on the EP art work, was hit by a car and now walks on three legs!"
Fortunately the EP in question has legs, and songs such as 'Church of Bones', 'Small Town', 'Good Ship', and 'The Final Garden' have become important parts of The Pale live set. The songs were first showcased when The Pale played support to Antony and The Johnsons at Vicar Street in Dublin.
Over the course of the last few years Matthew Devereux and Shane Wearen have collaborated with a number of different artists and their main strength as a group is that they always think outside the box. In the past they have been described as 'Tom Waits on acid with a drunken Ukranian wedding band'. Their rebellious spirit comes through in their music and for Devereux a meeting with a legendary rebel some years ago was to leave a lasting impression. The rebel in question was the late great Johnny Cash. Matthew says "I worked for a country and western music establishment in Dublin in the late 1980s and I got the job of serving Irish stew to Johnny Cash. He was playing some dates in the Olympia and during meal time he would insist that everyone say grace before meals. He was a very kind and generous man and he would give me £50 a night as a tip. Needless to say it was a great way for me to get more curious about his music. I remember I spent some of the money he gave me in tips on some of his records. Good businessman,"
One thing that sustained Cash during his long career was his process of constant reinvention. It also seems that the process of reinvention is taking place with The Pale's new material.
Kevin McGuire
Galway Advertiser
NEWS
"The Contents Of A Shipwreck" Irish Release Date May 25, 2007 Features the Single "Elizabeth In Rags" 1969 Records ( Distributed By RMG-Chart ) Produced by Q (aka Colm Quearney) at Qube Analogue Studios www.myspace.com/thepaleie www.thepale.ie
Dublin-based 1969 Records, home to Dave Couse & the Impossible and Pugwash, are delighted to announce the signing of one of Ireland's favourite and hardest working bands, The Pale. Their 1969 Records debut, the single "Elizabeth in Rags", hits the shops on May 11th then right on its heels the album "The Contents of the Shipwreck" gets shipped out to the masses on May 25th!
"We have been talking with the lads for a number of months and were excited seeing the album come together over that period. Its lyrically dense but will definitely engage the feet as well. The Pale are a good add to the 1969 stable, the music is quality and the band deliver live" - Daragh Bohan / 1969 Records
The Pale formed in Dublin in 1990 with Matthew Devereux on vocals Shane Wearen on Mandolins Sean Molloy on Bass and a cheap as chips drum machine taking care of the beats. They released an award winning debut album on A&M records in 1992 called "Here's one we made earlier" The debut album and live shows received critical praise internationally. The singles from that debut "Dogs with no tails", "Butterfly"and "Shut up venus" did well in both Ireland and the UK. The highest chart positions came in Turkey, Israel and France and has given rise to succesfull cover versions of their songs released in Turkey over the last decade.
Over the course of the last few years The Pale have collaborated with a number of different artists and their main strength as a group is that they always think outside the box. As the group have toured they have added and subtracted instruments and players to the line-up. The mainstay of the group has remained to be the unique sound conjured up by Matthew and Shane. The Sound of the group is one of ethnic fusion and is often referred to as eclectic and quirky. Over the years The Pale have recorded five live sessions for RTE radio and a further two for BBC radio. The most recent session was recorded for John Kelly's The Mystery Train for which they debuted new songs from their upcoming album.
In 2006 and The Pale toured non-stop and independently released "The Final Garden" E.P and is available on their own label called Devereux Records. An exclusive live track from The Pale called "Slope" was released on a compilation called "The Garden Sessions" out on RMG. All proceeds from this record go to The Irish Hospice Foundation. The Pale have also had time to record an irish version of both "Butterfly" and "Elizabeth In Rags" for the recent irish langauge compilations Ceol'06 and Ceol'07 which both charted in the Top Ten in the Irish Compilation Charts.
Fast forward to 2007 The Pale signed with Irish Independent label 1969 Records (Dave Couse, Pugwash) and released "The Contents Of A Shipwreck" in May,the album is right up there with the band's best work.
For Information / Interview requests contact Berube Communications [email protected] phone 0872442695
RECENT COMPILATIONS FEATURING THE PALE
The Pale-Butterfly as Gaeilge
The Pale-Elizabeth in Rags as Gaeilge
The Pale song that is included on the 'Garden Sessions' is an acoustic version of a song called 'Slope'.This double CD is distributed by RMG on Strange Vibration Records.
THE PALE VIDEOS
Elizabeth In Rags
by Itison, 2007
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Remember The Night
by Itison, 2007
Good Ship
by Itison, 2006
Church Of Bones
2005
Shut Up Venus
by Jamie Thraves, 1992
Dogs With No Tails
by Danni Hillen, 1992
Butterfly
by Danni Hillen, 1992
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