THE CATHODE RAY
THE CATHODE RAY (left to right):
PHIL BIGGS: GUITAR
DAVID MACK: DRUMS & PERCUSSION
JEREMY THOMS: VOCALS/GUITAR/KEYS
NEIL BALDWIN: BASS
STEVE FRASER: GUITAR
Stereogram Recordings, in partnership with Last Night From Glasgow, are delighted to announce the release of “Advance Retreat” the brand new album by The Cathode Ray, available on red vinyl, CD, download and streaming services from September 20th 2024.
It’s been trailed by the singles and videos “Travelling In Style”, “No Uncertain Terms” and “Consequences”, all of which have received enthusiastic responses and extensive radio airplay upon their release. Watch the videos here:
Travelling In Style: https://youtu.be/8lq5wiUwzpw?si=EU6yAhqPnyzteDtZ
No Uncertain Terms: https://youtu.be/-YVk6rnqE-k?si=jUcUWpj6XGAcqlYP
Consequences: https://youtu.be/A8EBODrnQ10?si=mrnTR812fE-zObmi
Following on five years from their last album, “Advance Retreat” explores contrasting lyrical themes of belonging and alienation, communication and misunderstanding, escapism and realism, clarity and ambiguity, doubt and certainty. Musically, it advances by expanding on the styles and sounds previously associated with The Cathode Ray, adding a wide screen pop dynamic, while it retreats by retaining key elements of their original art-rock/post-punk roots.
A Short History:
Originally based on a loose concept of forging late seventies New York with post-punk Manchester, The Cathode Ray started life in 2006, initially as a songwriting collaboration between Paul Haig and Jeremy Thoms.
Adding bassist Neil Baldwin and drummer David Mack to the line-up, recording sessions ensued. The band’s debut single ‘What’s it all About?’/’Mind’ was hailed as Single of the Year by DJ Billy Sloan in his round up of 2006.
Following the departure of Paul Haig from the project, a second single, ‘Slipping Away’ was released in April 2009 and proclaimed Single of the Year (so far) by journalist Paul Lester in an enthusiastic piece in The Guardian.
After recruiting guitarist Steve Fraser, the band’s eponymous debut album finally came out in April 2012 and featured high in many end-of-year roundups. The single ‘Dispersal’ was Track of the Month in April 2012 on the Janice Forsyth Show on BBC Radio Scotland.
The group released their second album “Infinite Variety” in April 2015. Accompanied by the singles ‘Resist’, ‘Buck The Trend’ and ‘This Force Of Nature’, it garlanded ecstatic praise from all corners of the music press and also figured high in many year end lists.
November 2019 saw the release of the “Heightened Senses” album, to yet more positive reviews, plus the addition of guitarist Phil Biggs to the line-up. As the name implied, it found the band’s musical and lyrical palette raised to higher levels.
It spawned the singles “Another World”, “Love & Death” plus the title track.
PRESS QUOTES:
“shockingly invigorating and fresh” – THE GUARDIAN
“the second album from Edinburgh’s Cathode Ray is a thing of natural beauty” – THE HERALD
“their sound is difficult to Resist” – DAILY RECORD
“a fine set of provocative thematic-sounding originals” – SHINDIG!
“quintessentially British art-pop” – THE SKINNY
“Jeremy Thoms’ bands do not disappoint” – THE SCOTSMAN
“spry debut from Scottish post punk veterans” – UNCUT
“a group who manage to do something original and different with each new release. One of the most life-affirming records of the year” – PENNY BLACK MUSIC
“an album of consistently inventive, invigorating and infectious tracks” – LOUDER THAN WAR
“quite breath-taking, The Cathode Ray top the lot. A sublime set of indie pop songs” – THE RINGMASTER REVIEW
“urgent, engaging – a band that effortlessly blends musical maturity with the fizz and buzz of prime guitar pop” – ISTHISMUSIC?
“an exhilarating roller-coaster ride through a multifaceted post-punk landscape. Songs that will imprint themselves on your memory” – MANIC POP THRILLS
“an immense pleasure to listen to” – JAMMERZINE
“equal parts pop and art” – NARC. Magazine
PRESS QUOTES:
“shockingly invigorating and fresh” – THE GUARDIAN
“the second album from Edinburgh’s Cathode Ray is a thing of natural beauty” – THE HERALD
“their sound is difficult to Resist” – DAILY RECORD
“the pedigree of the band is impressive” – EVENING NEWS
“a fine set of provocative thematic-sounding originals” – SHINDIG
“quintessentially British art-pop” – THE SKINNY
“Jeremy Thoms’ bands do not disappoint” – THE SCOTSMAN
“spry debut from Scottish post punk veterans” – UNCUT
“a group who manage to do something original and different with each new release” – PENNY BLACK MUSIC
“an album of consistently inventive, invigorating and infectious tracks” – LOUDER THAN WAR
“quite breath-taking, The Cathode Ray tops the lot” – THE RINGMASTER REVIEW
“urgent, engaging – a band that effortlessly blends musical maturity with the fizz and buzz of prime guitar pop” – ISTHISMUSIC?
“an exhilarating roller-coaster ride through a multifaceted post-punk landscape.” – MANIC POP THRILLS
“an immense pleasure” – JAMMERZINE
“equal parts pop and art” – NARC Magazine