In Ribbons Explained

In Ribbons
Type:	studio
Artist:	Pale Saints
Cover:	PaleSaintsinRibbons.jpg
Recorded:	October 1991 – January 1992
Genre:	Shoegaze
Label:	4AD
Producer:	Hugh Jones
Prev Title:	The Comforts of Madness
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	Slow Buildings
Next Year:	1994

In Ribbons is the second studio album by English alternative rock band Pale Saints, released on 23 March 1992 by 4AD.^[1] It peaked at number 61 on the UK Albums Chart.

Critical reception

Jack Rabid of Trouser Press called In Ribbons "alluring and attractive, rich in complexity and raw emotion."^[2] Martin C. Strong wrote that "the subtlety of its shredding chords and sporadic sonic dreamscapes were let loose all over the shop."^[3] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide wrote that the album "immaculately balances wide-screen guitars and soft melodies."

Spin included In Ribbons in a 2007 list of "essential" shoegaze albums.^[4] In 2016, Pitchfork ranked In Ribbons at number 34 on its list of the 50 best shoegaze albums of all time.^[5]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[6]

• Pale Saints (Meriel Barham, Chris Cooper, Ian Masters, and Graeme Naysmith) – all instruments (except cello), arrangement

Additional musicians

• Hugh Jones – arrangement
• Caroline Lavelle – cello

Production

• Phil Ault – engineering
• Goetz Botzenhardt – engineering
• Alan Branch – engineering
• Steve Bray – engineering
• Kevin Hurley – engineering
• Hugh Jones – production, engineering
• John O'Donnell – engineering
• Paul Tipler – engineering

Design

• Chris Bigg – sleeve design
• Matt Heslop – portrait photography
• Vaughan Oliver – sleeve design
• Pirate – model making
• Kevin Westenberg – still life photography

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pale Saints: 'In Ribbons'. 4AD. 21 January 2018.
2. Web site: Jack. Rabid. Pale Saints. Trouser Press. 8 December 2020.
3. Web site: Martin C.. Strong. Martin C. Strong. Pale Saints biography. The Great Rock Bible. July 2015. 8 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601100317/http://thegreatrockbible.com/portfolio-item/pale-saints-biography/. 1 June 2016. dead.
4. Joe. Gross. Essentials: Shoegaze. Spin. 23. 8. August 2007. 8 December 2020. 110.
5. Web site: The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time. Pitchfork. 24 October 2016. 21 January 2018. 2.
6. In Ribbons. Pale Saints. 4AD. 1992. cad 2004 cd. liner notes.
7. Distribution: Indie Albums. Music Week. 11 April 1992. 28 May 2021. 18.