The Comforts of Madness (album)

The Comforts of Madness is the debut studio album by British alternative rock band Pale Saints, released through 4AD on 12 February 1990.[3] It peaked at number 40 on the UK Albums Chart.[4] In January 2020, 4AD released a remastered and expanded reissue of the album in honor of its 30th anniversary.[5]

The Comforts of Madness
Studio album by Pale Saints
Released	12 February 1990
Studio	Blackwing Studios
Genre	Shoegazing[1] dream pop[2]
Length	41:06
Label	4AD
Producer	Gil Norton John Fryer
Pale Saints chronology
The Comforts of Madness (1990) In Ribbons (1992)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Mojo	[7]
NME	9/10[8]
Pitchfork	7.6/10[2]
Q	[9]
Uncut	9/10[10]
Under the Radar	9/10[11]

NME named The Comforts of Madness the 45th best album of 1990.[12] In 2016, Pitchfork placed the album at number 21 on its "50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time" list.[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Pale Saints (Chris Cooper, Ian Masters, Graeme Naysmith), except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Way the World Is"		2:40
2.	"You Tear the World in Two"		3:01
3.	"Sea of Sound"		5:52
4.	"True Coming Dream"		2:30
5.	"Little Hammer"		2:17
6.	"Insubstantial"		4:20
7.	"A Deep Sleep for Steven"		3:44
8.	"Language of Flowers"		2:54
9.	"Fell from the Sun"	Kendra Smith	4:45
10.	"Sight of You"		5:37
11.	"Time Thief"		3:26

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

• Pale Saints (Chris Cooper, Ian Masters, Graeme Naysmith) – all instruments
• John Fryer – production (on 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10), engineering (on 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10)
• Gil Norton – production (on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11)
• Al Clay – engineering (on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11)
• Tim Davis – engineering assistance (on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11)
• Richard Hermitage – manipulation
• Vaughan Oliver – art direction, design
• Chris Bigg – art direction assistance, design assistance
• Sarah Tucker – cat photography
• Bleddyn Butcher – group photography

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[4]	40

References

1. "The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time". Pitchfork. 24 October 2016. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
2. Ham, Robert (23 January 2020). "Pale Saints: The Comforts of Madness". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
3. "Pale Saints: 'The Comforts Of Madness'". 4AD. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
4. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
5. "Pale Saints: 30th Anniversary 'The Comforts of Madness' Out Now". 4AD. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
6. Kellman, Andy. "The Comforts of Madness – Pale Saints". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
7. Eccleston, Danny (March 2020). "Pale Saints: The Comforts of Madness". Mojo (316): 107.
8. Williams, Simon (10 February 1990). "Beyond the Pale". NME.
9. Paphides, Pete (April 2020). "Pale Saints: The Comforts of Madness". Q (409): 118.
10. Dale, Jon (February 2020). "Pale Saints: The Comforts of Madness". Uncut (273): 48.
11. Gourlay, Dom (22 January 2020). "Pale Saints: The Comforts of Madness: 30th Anniversary Remaster (4AD)". Under the Radar. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
12. "Albums And Tracks Of The Year: 1990". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2018.

External links

• The Comforts of Madness at Discogs (list of releases)