Slow Buildings [Import]

Pale Saints | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: 4ad
• ASIN: B0000251KA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,692 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant, Brutal, Stately, Savage, Atmospheric, December 18, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (La Grande, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Buildings (Audio CD)

From the lush, reverb-laden pop-rock of "Fine Friend" to the heavy dirge/grunge-meets-Pink-Floyd sounds of "Henry" to the emotion-tweaking slow-building "Song of Solomon" and "Gesture of a Fear", this CD is much, much more than something to simply put on as background music. After a slow start ("King Fade", reminiscent of "Signs of Life" from Pink Floyd's "Momentary Lapse of Reason") the CD jumps right in, demanding the listener's attention with the upbeat "Angel (Would You Be My"). The musicians don't show off their "chops", but rather create dense, atmospheric sound textures. Meriel Barham's smooth vocals have an understated quality about them, and Colleen Browne sings nicely as backup while playing solid bass lines. She and drummer Chris Cooper form a steady rhythm section for Berham (who also plays rhythm guitar) and primary guitarist Graeme Naysmith. I don't know what happened to this band in this lineup, or why it didn't gain more worldwide attention. On record they have a mesmerizing, organic feel, as if they all got along well enough to stay together for a long while. This is a rare CD, one to which I return frequently! Very much worth buying.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT, September 10, 2001

By 

Kenna (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Buildings (Audio CD)

This album is the best offering from the now defunct Pale Saints. Sure, Meriel Barham's writing style is different than Ian Master's, but the quality of work is just as good. Barham brought new light and killer licks to what ultimately became Pale Saints swan song. And as a vocalist, she surpasses Masters by miles. 'Slow Buildings' may not be the best rock album in the world but it remains one of the finest moments in music from the 1990s. 4AD fan or not, this record will appeal to anyone looking for great brit-rock from the last decade. It's still as refreshing as ever. I cannot get bored of this album. Highlights: Under Your Nose & Fine Friend.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obscure Perfection, April 22, 2006

By 

Rock Spahr "Raghouse" (High Point, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Buildings (Audio CD)

To me this is "The Pale Saints" and the album that exposed me to this great band. Mariel Bonham has a wonderful and relaxed voice that really makes the songs shine. The guitar craft is the tightest the band has ever been and the songs contain just enough experimentation to make them interesting for many repeated listenings. Stumbling across this album was a defining moment in shaping my taste in music today and as a result it consistently is among my favorites. King Fade, Fine Friend, and Suggestion are my choice songs.