Album review: Chris Catalyst – Mad In England

When someone’s CV includes stints with bands as varied as the Sisters Of Mercy and Ugly Kid Joe, not to mention six years as a Nameless Ghoul within Ghost’s ranks… well, you’d be forgiven for wondering what on earth their solo records might sound like. For Chris Catalyst, a musician clearly capable of adapting to a variety of sonic shades, the most relevant clues come from his time working with cult UK bands like The Wildhearts or Terrorvision. Mad In England, the third album under his own name, is an effervescent collection of wide-eyed melodies and subtly psychedelic experimental touches, with witty lyrics amounting to a raised eyebrow at the absurdities of modern life.

The tunes on this record position Chris as part of a quietly thriving tradition of British songwriters obsessively ploughing their own furrow away from mainstream attention, their modest means no barrier to creative ambition; think Mike Vennart, Jamie Lenman or Ginger Wildheart himself. Playing the majority of the instruments, Chris conjures magical moments like the soaring, LostAlone-like guitar flourish on Emergency or the lushly swaying title-track. And, despite the meticulous production, with every backing vocal and dynamic riff perfectly placed, a spirit of spontaneity perseveres throughout.

It's tempting to think of these songs as hit singles from a better world – well, perhaps with the exception of I’d Rather Be Anywhere, what with its lyrical references to Katie Hopkins and Rose West. The thing is, though, the last Chris Catalyst album, 2021’s Kaleidoscopes, actually made it into the UK Top 30 – and on the basis of this fantastic follow-up, such success is both well-deserved and an argument for modern life not being so rubbish after all.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Jamie Lenman, LostAlone, The Dowling Poole

Mad In England is self-released on October 6