The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Totally Dublin
July 2007

The prodigal sons return.Way back in the early 1990's The Pale was the band of the moment, when the carbon footprint of the London A&R departments rose dramatically over Dublin and deservedly so.Killer tunes like I Am The Butterfly and Dogs With No Tails were pop nuggets and the 4 piece duly landed a deal with A&M, had hits in Ireland, France and Turkey with the above, and a hit album Here's One We Made Earlier. Unfortunately it never really happened beyond that but their unique sound that incorporated mandolins, guitars, a slew of ethnic instruments and electronic percussion never dated so maybe now is their time.Whatever the career intentions it's clear Matthew Devereux (vocals) and Shane Wearen (Mandolin) are having fun with their music.The Contents Of A Shipwreck is a party album of sorts; full of colour with infectious melodies and dance beats that sound like The Beat covering Tom Waits all underpinned by Devereux's sharp lyrical style. Always one of the most literate and outspoken of Irish writers Devereux shines again with aselection of urban tales swathed in a quasi marine/religious shtick that allows him to indulge in lyrical flights of fancy while digging his angst-dripping knife into the soft underbelly of contemporary Ireland.Wearen's playing throughout is a joy as is the superb contribution of Colm Quearney (a.k.a Q) on guitars and bass, the two providing the main rhythmic thrust of a record that calypso's over the Caribbean seas down to the tango waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The overall effect can be quite theatrical at especially when the gypsy rhythms don a Nick Cave cloak of darkness as on the scurvy ridden Steadfast Captain and the superb, sultry highlight Joan Of Arc On Broadway.An album packed with singles - Elizabeth In Rags, The New Resistance, Church Of Bones et al - The Contents Of A Shipwreck is a welcome return by an oft missed, much needed band.

John Brereton


The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Hot Press
31st of May 2007

Back in the 1990s,The Pale were hailed as Ireland's next big thing, adored for their quirky blend of European rhythms, mandolins, a drum machine, bald heads, a bag of esoteric tunes and Matthew Devereux's distinctive vocals.Frustrated by record company woes, among other things,it didn't last and they called it a day.Now, with an album deal under their belts, the core twosome of Devereux and Shane wearen are back in earnest,supported by a revolving line-up that includes guitar maestro Colm Quearney.

Regular jaunts to the Balkans have turned them on further to the ethnic music of the region, while the band also continue their love affair with ska and reggae.The trailer single 'Elizabeth In Rags' is a bit of a Dexy's-style knees-up, driven by Wearen's mandolin and it works well, while the disturbing 'Steadfast Captain' would fit snugly in the Leonard Cohen canon (and that's meant as a big compliment).

Musically it's impressively diverse.There's the lilting reggae of the title track, a tune called 'Church Of Bones' which is as bluegrass as Kentucky, while the sumptuous 'Joan Of Arc On Broadway' is achingly beautiful in a sultry Brechtian kind of way.Meanwhile, there's a hint of foreboding about 'The Serpent Song' in which Devereux waxes lyrical about not going into the forest and staying"out from under those dark canopies".While there's nothing likely to eclipse the might of 'Butterfly' or 'Dogs With No Tails',There's a sturdiness to the new material that wasn't as evident the first time around.File under Welcome Back.

7 out of 10

Jackie Hayden


The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
The Star
June 6th 2007

The title of The Pale's first album in Donkey's years may sound a tad sombre, but rest assured that the contents here are more sunken treasure than washed-up wreckage.

The lads-now reduced to a duo-have a devoted following built up since they formed back in 1990.

The long-awaited comeback proves more than worthy of their legacy and continues their love of 'ethnic fusion' and the sounds of ska. This is a more diverse Pale however,with stylistic leaps throughout,from the beautiful 'Joan of Arc on Broadway' to uplifting single 'Elizabeth In Rags'.

It's good to have them back, even if they never really went away.

4 out of 5 Stars


The Contents Of A Shipwreck
(1969 Records)
Metro Magazine
30th of May 2007

As the cult duo behind early 1990s hits Butterfly and Dogs with No Tails, Matthew Devereux and Shane Wearen always walked the line between quirky popsters and inane novelty group.

Now they're back, with a new album and a new, more sophisticated sound.Devereux in particular, seems to have renounced the role of zany entertainer,emerging as a singer of unexpected depth and nuance.

This is clear from the single Elizabeth In Rags, a brisk folk tune that sees Wearen thunking his mandolin as if it were a heavy metal guitar and Devereux delivering a stark vocal.

Later, they slow the tempo-The New Resistance is the sort of wrenching, torch song you may have believed The Pale entirely incapable of writing.As comebacks go,then,The Contents Of A Shipwreck is one of constant, delightful suprise.

4 out of 5 stars

Eamon de Paor