In the mid-'90s era after Brit-pop, numerous Welsh bands appeared, yet Catatonia ranked as the most conventional pop act among them. They updated the ringing alternative rock textures of the late '80s by means of an aggressive, rough-edged indie rock assault. The lineup featured singer Cerys Matthews, guitarist and vocalist Mark Roberts, guitarist Owen, bassist Paul Jones, and drummer Aled Richards, and the group originated in Cardiff, Wales, during the early '90s. Before the band existed in official form, Matthews and Roberts performed together as street buskers in Cardiff.
Catatonia issued their debut EP, For Tinkerbell, in 1993. The roster at that moment consisted of Matthews, Roberts, Jones, drummer Dafydd Ieuan, and keyboardist C. Pegg. This same configuration completed the recording of Hooked, which appeared the next year. Following the release of Hooked, both Pegg and Ieuan exited; Dafydd subsequently joined Super Furry Animals. After Aled Richards took over for Ieuan on drums, the band released "Sweet Catatonia" in late 1995 and then brought Owen aboard as a second guitarist. Early in 1996, "You've Got a Lot to Answer For" registered as their first single to chart, landing at number 35 on the British charts. Their debut full-length album, Way Beyond Blue, arrived in September and received favorable notices while reaching number 40 on the charts. Catatonia resurfaced in 1998 with the second album, International Velvet, a major British success that ascended to the top of the charts and remained there for several weeks on the strength of the hit singles "I Am the Mob" and "Mulder and Scully." Equally Cursed & Blessed appeared in the spring of 2000.
The next album, Paper Scissors Stone, arrived in summer 2001, yet the single "Stone by Stone" failed to make significant headway. In September, frontwoman Cerys Matthews declared her departure from Catatonia. She had experienced periods of exhaustion and anxiety in recent months, making a well-earned rest advisable. The remaining members carried on with their work, though not under the Catatonia name.
