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Podcast Episode
Season
Thirteen
number
663
Type
Album Review
Post Date
6/13/2023

Catherine Wheel

663 Chrome by Catherine Wheel

Chrome

Label
Mercury Records
Release year
1993
Producer
Gil Norton
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On the 1993 sophomore album Chrome, Catherine Wheel cut back the shoegaze elements for a bolder, more dramatic sound

Author & Special Guests

Catherine Wheel's 1992 debut Ferment is a bonafide shoegaze classic, full of swirling guitars and ethereal vocals. For their 1993 follow-up Chrome, the band brought in Gil Norton, who had a resume boasting bands like the Pixies, Throwing Muses, Pale Saints, Echo & the Bunnymen, and more. With Norton on board, the band dialed down the waves of distortion and used it more sparingly, and a more crafted sound emerged. Harder guitar riffs, paired with Rob Dickinson's chameleon-like voice that could deliver throaty shouts and crooning coos, edged the band towards a more refined sound without leaving their shoegaze roots completely behind. The end result is a exceptional transitional album before the band would fully embrace a harder edge on their third album Happy Days.

Does This album bring back some great vibes?

Remember when you first discovered this album? We’re grateful to dig into these hidden gems and bring them the attention they deserve. Your support helps us uncover more albums deserve another moment in the spotlight.

Songs in this episode

  • Intro - Crank
  • 26:22 - Chrome
  • 34:22 - Ursa Major Space Station
  • 47:57 - Fripp
  • Outro - Show Me Mary

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Chrome