Obviously, we need a psychiatrist to assist us further with this topic!
Catatonia deliberetly tries 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 is a mix of hooky pop and underground indie rock.
The songs are characterized by clever lyrics and Matthew'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 UK).
The band, in its music, lyrics, and PR, are proudly, or at least happily, Welsh. This, they have insisted, should not be taken too seriously, as they are more internationalists than nationalists (hence the name of their 1998 release, [International Velvet]?
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 (amazon.com, search)
Another book, To Hell and Back with Catatonia, was released June 1, 2001, written by Brian Wright. ISBN 0946719365 (amazon.com, search)
Important Catatonia related information is available at http://www.catatonia.com/