Catherine Wheel – Chrome

Formed in Great Yarmouth in 1990, Catherine Wheel – singer guitarist Rob Dickinson, guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes and drummer Neil Sims – are possibly one of the greatest lost bands of that fabled decade – Swimming against several tides, they were loosely defined as ‘shoegaze’, and failed to fit in with the grunge or britpop movements in those years.

They were of a size and scale to be supported by the upcoming Radiohead. Melody Maker said that Radiohead were like Catherine Wheel as they “function along a similar catharsis/contrivance axis, ladling existential angst into skilfully imposing song structures.

Overseen by Pixies producer Gil Norton and recorded at Pink Floyd’s Britannia Row Studios, where band favourites, Joy Division, had made Closer, Chrome marked a huge step forward, honed on the road after the constant touring to support previous album Ferment. With its sleeve designed by Storm Thorgerson, it’s as if the album was a dry run for Muse. There is increasing experimentation – the 7 minutes plus of Fripp are, as writer Ben Cardew noted, “celestial and full of dread.” As Pitchfork wrote, “It’s as if Chrome were imported from another history of alt-rock, one more textured and romantic, where it sits deservedly atop the pile.

This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1993 Fontana UK release and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl.

Format – LP