Wow, I just posted a little "blast from the past" on
Anna's MOG, and it got me thinking about my old favorite (aw hell, still high up there) band, Catherine Wheel. I watched a movie a few months back called "Millions," which, among other things was about a young boy who was obsessed with saints. One day in school, he spoke of St. Catherine of Alexandria. I'm not Catholic, so I knew nothing of Saints, but I liked the little boy's description of the Catherine Wheel, so I did a little basic reading up:The legend of St. Catherine was that she was condemned to death on the breaking wheel (an instrument of torture), but that it broke when she touched it, so she was beheaded. Centuries later, a firework was invented, called the Catherine Wheel, which, when ignited, rotates quickly, producing a display of sparks and coloured flame. (this info comes from
Wikipedia).Anyway, back to
the band... I had a fuller understanding of their name and how it is such a lovely way of describing their shiny, fuzzy, swirly sound. Few albums stand the test of time as well as "Ferment," Catherine Wheel's debut album, and a major staple of my college years. As much as I have listened to this album (and still do today), I could barely tell you one clear lyric. But the lyrics are not so important; the vocals are just a part of the landscape as far as I'm concerned. You just have to close your eyes and let the music carry you up and out into the undertow... and you'll simply get it.
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