Pauline Murray - Storm Clouds

After the first album with the Invisible Girls, Pauline Murray released a 10” single “Searching For Heaven” and then the record label went bust. Having absconded from her home turf of Newcastle, Murray and her boyfriend Robert Blamire (Bass – Penetration) moved to Toxteth, Liverpool and the riots started a week later. Murray and Balmire started working on some demos that they could pedal around the slightly more receptive records labels, nothing came of them. Halfway through singing a song, Murray decided that was enough and she walked out of the studio. Murray didn't want to do this anymore; she couldn’t face the next phase of looking for a deal and turned her back on it all. Almost three years later the couple had moved back to Newcastle and went to see Chrysalis music publishers, who they had been signed with as songwriters during the Invisible Girls period. Murray committed to working on another set of songs and in that session worked on the Big Star track “Holocaust”. Released as a single in 1984 on their own record label, Polestar, it promptly disappeared without a trace. Feeling ever more confident writing, Murray and Balmire moved forward and managed to release some recordings under the monikers of Pauline Murray And The Saint or Pauline Murray And The Storm. This was the mid to late 80’s, no one was interested. Finally putting a band together to finish recording and release the Storm Clouds album in 1989. Now before you jump ahead and start franticly clicking the download link be warned, this is a pop album. Albeit it is a Pauline Murray pop album and that in itself should count for something, believe me, it doesn’t. This is a hard to find album because of its origins in the world of small indie labels, so for the mad daft collectors out there, click away!

Released in 1989 on the Illusive label, Storm Clouds is an 11-track compilation that captures Pauline Murray’s solo evolution throughout the 1980s. Following her departure from the pioneering punk outfit Penetration and a brief, celebrated stint with the Invisible Girls, this release consolidates her standalone singles, b-sides, and tracks from her Hong Kong EP era. By packaging these scattered recordings into a single LP, the album serves as a definitive roadmap of her post-punk journey, tracing her growth as an independent artist navigating a rapidly changing decade.

Musically, the record represents a dramatic stylistic departure from the raw, high-energy adrenaline that defined Murray's early career. Instead of aggressive guitar riffs, Storm Clouds leans into a polished, lighter, and breezier aesthetic rooted in sophisticated 1980s indie pop and new wave. The instrumentation relies on sparkling textures, melodic guitar work, and subtle synth arrangements. This smoother sonic landscape provides a comfortable cushion for Murray’s songwriting, allowing her to experiment with understated pop structures that value atmosphere over sheer volume.

The most praised aspect of the collection is Murray’s striking vocal transformation. According to critics from Trouser Press, she completely sheds her full-throated punk histrionics in favour of a hushed, quiet, and deeply introspective singing style. This newfound subtlety allows her to convey a strong sense of emotional vulnerability and melancholy, making the tracks feel remarkably personal. Her voice acts as a powerful guiding anchor through the music, showing that an artist can command immense presence through soft restraint rather than aggressive shouting.

The album's strength is further solidified by its diverse track choice, which mixes strong original material with well-crafted covers. Standout original cuts like "New Age" and "Time" display her sharp eye for modern pop hooks, while her interpretations of outside material show deep artistic maturity. Specifically, her striking, chamber-pop treatment of Alex Chilton's "Holocaust" and her take on John Cale's "Close Watch" reveal a brilliant ability to reinvent dark, complex pieces. Ultimately, listeners on platforms like Rate Your Music celebrate the record as a harmonious, fine piece of work that remains an underrated gem in the post-punk timeline.

Ripped from very clean vinyl to sparkling MP3 @ 320kbps

Pauline Murray; Storm Clouds

A1.  This Thing Called Love

A2.  Holocaust

A3.  Soul Power

A4.  No One Like You

A5.  Another World

A6.  Don’t Give Up

B1.  Pressure Zone

B2.  Close Watch

B3.  Everybody’s Talkin’

B4.  New Age

B5.  Time

You can find more from Pauline Murray representing here and with Penetration here