Originally based on a loose concept of forging late 70’s New York, with late 70’s Manchester, The Cathode Ray started life in 2006, initially as a song-writing collaboration and “a bit of fun” between Jeremy Thoms and his friend ex-Josef K frontman Paul Haig. The songs written were swift to adopt their own unique stamp and personality, so a band was needed to flesh them out.
Adding 60’s garage, soundtracks, glam rock, northern soul, disco and psyche to the palette, recording sessions ensued, with ex-Bluebells and TV21 bassist Neil Baldwin, plus drummer/percussionist David Mack completing the line-up.
A one off double ‘A’ sided single entitled “What’s It All About?”/”Mind” was released in late 2006 on Pronoia Records. It received extensive radio play, and was hailed Single Of The Year by Radio Clyde DJ and Sunday Mail columnist Billy Sloan in his round up of 2006.
A second single, “Slipping Away”, was released to great critical acclaim in April 2009, this time on Re-Action Recordings. The esteemed journalist Paul Lester proclaimed it Single of the Year (so far) in an enthusiastic piece in The Guardian. A revised version (with Thoms on lead vocals) appears on the band’s 2012 debut album.
Just prior to the release of that single, Paul Haig quit the project, not wishing to be involved in any band situation again after Josef K. With Thoms assuming all lead vocal and song-writing duties, former Scars/Mike Scott accomplice Steve Fraser joined on lead guitar and backing vocals in 2009.
Writing and recording sessions for their debut album continued with the new line-up throughout 2010 – 2011 at Gold Star Studios in Fife. 2010 also saw The Cathode Ray making their live debut with well received shows in Edinburgh and Glasgow. They have since built up a solid live reputation with more gigs in and around Scotland including an appearance at the Wickerman Festival in 2012.
The debut album “The Cathode Ray” was finally released in April 2012, through Stereogram Recordings to high critical acclaim. The album featured high in the end of year roundups on the Manic Pop Thrills, Penny Black Music, The Sound Project and Jock’n’roll websites. The single “Dispersal” was Track Of The Month in April 2012 on the influential Janice Forsyth Show on BBC Radio Scotland.
Three tracks, “Train”, “Around” and “Dispersal” were lifted from the album as singles to much acclaim and worldwide radio exposure.
Meanwhile, the band have spent the intervening two years writing and recording new material for their second album called “Infinite Variety” which is released on April 20th 2015
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