Catatonia deliberately tried to make their songs accessible to a broad audience, while at the same time not shying away from original, experimental, or even potentially abrasive sounds. The result was a mix of hooky pop and underground indie rock.
Their songs are characterized by clever lyrics and Matthews's enticing, raspy vocals, which have made her a bit of a sex symbol. Also prominent is her Welsh accent (though this feature is most likely lost on anyone outside the United Kingdom).
The band, in its music, lyrics, and PR, were proudly, or at least happily, Welsh. This, they insisted, should not be taken too seriously, as they are more internationalists than nationalists (hence the name of their 1998 release, International Velvet).
After their rise to fame, it became clear that Matthews was not coping well with the increased pressure, suffering from anxiety and nervous exhaustion which resulted in the cancellation of several concert tours and a deterioration in the relationships between the band members. In 2001, after the release of a new album Paper Scissors Stone, the band officially split.
Discography
Bibliography
In September 2000, a biography of the band by David Owens entitled Cerys, Catatonia & The Rise Of Welsh Pop was released in the UK (sometimes listed as Catatonia - Enter The Dragon, which was the working title).
ISBN 0091874122
Another book, To Hell and Back with Catatonia, was released June 1, 2001, written by Brian Wright.
ISBN 0946719365