In Ribbons

Etherial, mid-period 4AD music, in many ways a bridge between the dissonant dark rock of the earlier era with the more indie pop, shoegazing, and singer/songwriting of the later stuff. Pale Saints have three full length albums and this is the second, and probably the best. It's more 'mature' than the first one, sure, but it's also more interesting. 1992 release.

Best: 4, 6, 8, 12. Also try: 1, 2, 3, 10.

Track by track is somewhat difficult and not entirely necessary. I'll list some highlights:

1 use of wall guitar
3 this could have been a big hit, although perhaps in an earlier era
4 so lovely indie pop dirge, perfect 'song', use of strings, ballad
6 plodding, long (6+ minutes) and drawn out, sort of semi-goth, militaristic drums at end, fades
8 this one is so And Also The Trees (eg 'Anchor Yard'), and so successfully done
10 coin a sensibility
12 very pretty pop song, soaring