Heralding the addition of singer/guitarist
Meriel Barham, who would become
the Pale Saints' focal point following the exit of original frontman
Ian Masters,
Half-Life bridges the gap between the soundscapes of the band's debut LP, The Comforts of Madness, and its more conventional, pop-oriented follow-up, In Ribbons. Helmed by
Wedding Present producer
Chris Allison, this four-song set nevertheless manages to explore the altered states of
the Pale Saints' earliest and strongest work, particularly on the vivid "Baby Maker" and the eerie "Two Sick Sisters." The closing "A Revelation" is anything but, however, its bland production rendering the group indistinguishable from countless other guitar pop outfits. ~ Jason Ankeny