Longevity in the rock’n’roll world isn’t achievable for everyone, but The Cathode Ray are somehow still here alive and kicking.
The reason for this may partly be a long association with acts ranging from cult indie acts to bona fide pop stars. The Edinburgh-based act formed in 2006 as a songwriting collaboration between Jeremy Thoms and Josef K’s Paul Haig, but following the latter’s departure, the eponymous Cathode Ray debut album arrived in 2012 with follow-up ‘Infinite Variety’ in 2015; this roughly four year cycle continuing with 2019’s ‘Infinite Variety’.
The pedigree of the band members is impressive. Neil Baldwin came from TV21 having also played with The Bluebells, drummer David Mack with the Twinsets, Steve Fraser toured with The Scars as they supported Siouxsie & The Banshees in 1979, while Thoms himself toured and demoed with amongst others The Revillos as long ago as 1985.
With music very much in the blood of each member, it’s down to the frontman to push things forward. New album ‘Advance Retreat’ was conceived – like so many recent releases – during the Covid pamdemic.
“Lockdown was quite fruitful for me as it gave me something to focus on,” Thoms admits.
With things got back to relative normality, the band reconvened and recorded it in “our usual piecemeal manner” with sessions in Edinburgh and in North Yorkshire where David Mack and (guitarist) Phil Biggs live.
“Having our own recording facilities definitely helps,” Thoms says, with this DIY approach extending to the business side of things as well with the establishment of their own Stereogram label. Formed in 2011, its impressive back catalogue includes Stoor, Lola in Slacks and Band of Holy Joy.
“The label was set up to take control of A&R, release schedules, presentation etc. Basically everything that’s involved in the process of making records.”
It’s this independent spirit that has prompted a tie-in that is perhaps a no-brainer for the busy Thoms. Last Night From Glasgow frequently hit the charts with acts ranging from veteran punks The Skids to actor Peter Capaldi.
“Hooking up (with LNFG) has been brilliant,” Thoms says. “They take control of the manufacture and distribution, but leave the artistic decisions to us – the perfect combination.”
This article originally appeared in the Edinburgh News.