[1] The Pale formed in Dublin in 1990 with the original line-up settling as Matthew Devereux on vocals, Shane Wearen on mandolin, Sean Molloy on bass.
The band honed their musical and performance skills by busking on Dublin's Grafton street, alongside fellow Irish musicians, Kila, Paddy Casey, Mic Christopher and Glen Hansard.
The album was critically praised in the music press with Vox Magazine in the UK memorably describe its sound as "conventional balladry to make MOR stalwarts weep enviously, alongside mandolin frenzy that could only otherwise exist if Les Voix Bulgares became involved in an industrial drinking accident[7] The singles from that debut were "Dogs With No Tails", "Butterfly", and "Shut Up Venus".
[9] During this time the band's reputation as a formidable live act grew, with their live shows being described as "part theatre/part gig, Matthew (Devereux) paces the boards like a demented dervish, growling confessions to three part harmonies"[10] The band played the Irish music festival Feile in Thurles[11] and toured extensively in Ireland, the UK, Europe, US and as far afield as Japan.
[17] During this time the band's line-up expanded to include more traditional rock elements such as guitar and drums and the reliance on pre-recorded sounds lessened.
As well as the mainstays Matthew Devereux, Shane Wearen and Emma Shanley, the band was augmented by Peter Balfe on drums, Brian Brody on guitar,[18] Rob Malone on bass.
[22] In 2004 the band, now consisting of Matthew Devereux, David O'Shea, Andy O'Brien, Bernard Byrne and Stephen O'Keefe convened to record the unreleased album Delete Me produced by long-term member Darren Flynn.
[12] A fraught recording, the sessions would see drummer Steven O'Keefe break his foot, Matthew Devereux puncture his eardrums and Dave O'Shea involved in a car crash, all in the same week.
[17] Following the non-release of Delete Me a reconstituted line-up of The Pale, featuring the return of original member Shane Wearen and former Lir guitarist Colm Quearney, recorded The Final Garden EP.
[31] The tracks "Lights Out Boys", "Catholic Credit Card" and "Chocolate Factory", featured lyrical content that The Evening Herald's Eamon Carr noted had "a disturbing undertow in the aftermath of the scandals highlighted by the Ryan Report.".