The Pale formed on Dublin's Northside in 1990 but drew their influences from far beyond. At the time the band were part of the burgeoning busking scene on Dublin's Grafton street, before advancing to performing across Irelands many music venues and attracting the attention of a large quantity of record labels all extremely eager to sign them.
They released their debut album ‘Here’s One We Made Earlier’ in 1992 which featured the hits 'Butterfly' and 'Dogs With No Tails' followed by tours way off the beaten path in Russia, Japan, Eastern Europe as well as time spent touring with an alternative circus.
2019 saw them release the critically acclaimed album 'Merciful Hour', followed by shows across Ireland to promote their new album, as well as numerous festival appearances including closing out the Friday night of Feile 19 in Tipperary. The band recently celebrated 30 years in the music industry and returned to the UK for the first time in many years for a short tour, and plan on returning to the UK and Europe in 2022.
Band members Shane and Matthew each picked five tracks that inspired them to make the music they do. Check out their picks below, as well as The Pale's latest release, a brand new recording of their 1992 track 'Butterfly'.
Shane Wearen :
Ivan Rebroff - 'Katyusha'
I was raised on Russian folk music and this guy, although German born, could really evoke that Russian Feel and Imagery. As well as the moustache, he sported a vocal range of four and a half octaves and due to his Vocal Projection, he didn't require a microphone...........Moocho Voxo!
Horslips - 'Sword of Light'
I bought an album called "The Belfast Gigs" by these guys when I was Thirteen. I have remained a minor Uberfan ever since. In 2018 we had the pleasure of playing "Trouble With A Capital T" with Barry Devlin (the singer and bassist) in the Footsbarn Theatre at an Arts Festival in Cootehill, Co Cavan.
Jean Luc Ponty & Stephane Grappelli - 'Bowing Bowing'
I heard Django Reinhardt and Stephanne Grappelli at an early age and like most music lovers, was instantly hooked. I was learning Violin when I heard this for the first time, and when Jean Luc Ponty turned on the Wah Wah my head almost twisted off my shoulders.
The Beat - 'Click Click'
For me, this is the best Two-Tone album ever.... those bass lines are from a chap called David Steele who went on to form Fine Young Cannibals, it was hard to pick just one song from this classic album.
Black Sabbath - 'Black Sabbath'
I expected to hear a typical Heavy Metal band when I played this for the first time, however, this was something very different. They brought English Gothic Horror to their music and all that imagery of Hell and Damnation, scary stuff for a fourteen-year-old. My choice was either this or "War Pigs" but this one out for its sheer Gothic Horror imagery.
Matthew Devereux:
The Specials - 'Ghost Town'
When Father Ted featured a DJ who only had a 7-inch vinyl of 'Ghost Town' by The Specials, I truly related to the character. If I ever found myself in a situation of only having a set of one song, I would choose 'Ghost Town'. It has it all. Politics, portent, spooky vocal harmonies, beautiful ska in minors, a wry uplifting bridge and killer crisscrossing melodies. An important example of 'capturing the zeitgeist' songwriting.
Tom Waits - 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon'
This song has the most deliriously cinematic fusion of Latino influences. The guitar licks played by Marc Ribot are brilliantly bonkers and Tom sounds both menacing and playful at the very same time. The whole thing purses its lips and sways its hips. Intoxicating. Made me want to experiment more with the exotic possibilities of song.
The Stranglers - 'Golden Brown'
The jazz time signature of this song is the first hook. The enigmatic lyric the second. The organ line the third. The late introduction of the drums is the fourth hook. Then you are entirely hooked. The song is apparently about being hooked. This song showed that it was possibly to break apart the accepted rhythms of pop and still win.
David Bowie - 'Ashes To Ashes'
The heart of this song appears to be the same shape as an old-world rockabilly ballad. The seemingly random Brian Eno percussive touches are inspired. The lyric seems impenetrable yet personal and emotional. The unexpected ‘My Mama Said...' outro is a high watermark in contemporary rock. This song proved that sometimes rules need to be bent beyond recognition in order make a lasting impression.
Kate Bush - 'And Dream Of Sheep'
Kate Bush is an experience all humans should have. She is the you and your headphones in the dark artist. She is something sincere whispered in a million other ears and still the listener feels like they alone are being sang to. 'And Dream Of Sheep' is one of the most intimate pieces of music ever written and its effect does not wear off over time. It feels that real. This song showed me the potency of the personal in song.
Be sure to check out The Pale's new recording of their brilliant 1992 track 'Butterfly' and keep an eye out for tour dates very soon! In fact, the lads are playing Whelan's later this month! Check them out on Spotify and Instagram now!