Search - Catherine Wheel :: Ferment: Special Edition

Great album, so-so reissue

Tom Johnson | Always here, sometimes there | 04/15/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Catherine Wheel's debut is an incredible, sadly overlooked statement of noise and beauty. Time has not been fair to this band, who at one time seemed destined for very big things. Where other staples of the shoegaze scene turned off harder-rock listeners by being too inwardly focused, Catherine Wheel always reached for something a little more intense. The vocals were still breathy and ethereal and the guitars gauzy but cathartically loud, but there was something a little more "rock" about them (and this would come to the fore in later albums.) Somehow, however, that combination of sounds was a compromise rather than a blessing, and they've faded from memory of many today.



It's unfortunate that this is the "deluxe edition" we're getting to try and revive those memories. It seems nice on paper - a remastered album with a healthy "six" bonus tracks*, four of which make up the long-lost 30 Century Man EP - but what we get is something that isn't noticeably remastered in any way, and may even seem a bit weaker in sound than the original (it is very, very hard to tell, however - most may not hear it at all,) and what's worse, the bonus tracks may be sourced from vinyl! At least one is, that's for sure, "That's When I Reach For My Revolver," and this track alone is a serious issue because not only can popping and clicking of vinyl be heard in the intro, the track has digital errors at approximately 2'53". It's inexcusable - there was obviously no quality control whatsoever. I've fired off an email to Cherry Red Records asking about corrections to this pressing, but who knows if I'll get an answer. Fix this, and maybe source it from a CD at least (surely a die-hard fan would make a copy for the label, right?) if not the original master(!) and this would be a pretty great re-release.



*I say "six" because Balloon isn't a bonus track on my copy of the original Ferment, and so isn't a bonus to me. Five tracks, however, is still a pretty good number of bonus tracks."

A great re-issue of a brilliant album

scorchedearth | USA | 04/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have loved Catherine Wheel since the mid 90s when I discovered Happy Days. They quickly reached my favourite band status with their incredible catalogue and musical brilliance. Needless to say, I was disappointed when they did not achieve the commercial success that I felt they deserved and dissolved as a result. After hearing Ferment would be re-released, I waited until the day that Cherry Red emailed me to notify me that it was out and placed the order shortly afterward.



This is a great re-issue. The songs sound just as relevant as they did 15 years ago and still give me tingles when reminiscing about hearing them live. The bonus tracks are also wonderful. Intravenous was one B-Side that deserved A-Side status.



If you like CW, you will love this. If you don't know CW, then check it out. You may be pleasantly surprised."

Seminal Shoe Gazing...

Candyflip69 | Melbourne, AUSTRALIA | 04/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The moment I heard Black Metallic for the first time in Japan in 1992, I fell in love. This album had holes worn through it by the time I finished - and 'Black Metallic' played at 11 nearly got me kicked out of my apartment building a few times! I had the limited EP single with 30th Century Man, and the Husker Du cover (another fave band - both tracks on this re-issue) back in the day - and it is well worth the price of admission alone.



I still listen to this album every week, and never tire of its construction and simple, brutal, melodic, sonic assault. If you are a first timer, or curious passer-by, and you have perhaps been interested by My Bloody Valentine's 90's work and recent reformation, you can't go wrong here - take this one on trust. They are a different overall sound, but on the same path. All the bonus tracks are well loved favourites by the way, not obscure tacky add-ons.



Saw CW live in Boston 2000, one of their last ever gigs. Thank god. I can die happy now. ;)"