Review by Jason Ankeny
Heralding the addition of singer/guitarist Meriel Barham, who would become the Pale Saints' focal point following the exit of original frontman Ian Masters, Half-Life bridges the gap between the soundscapes of the band's debut LP, The Comforts of Madness, and its more conventional, pop-oriented follow-up, In Ribbons. Helmed by Wedding Present producer Chris Allison, this four-song set nevertheless manages to explore the altered states of the Pale Saints' earliest and strongest work, particularly on the vivid "Baby Maker" and the eerie "Two Sick Sisters." The closing "A Revelation" is anything but, however, its bland production rendering the group indistinguishable from countless other guitar pop outfits.
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