To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited

On this episode I’m joined by Giordaí Ua Laoghaire for a deep dive about Ciddy Hall by Nine Wassies From Bainne. Giordaí Ua Laoighaire was a member of Cork punk band Nun Attax before joining Micro Disney. Giordaí played guitar on Stano’s first two albums and later in the 1980s was a member of Cork band Soon. In 1988 he moved to Dublin and wrote music for theatre and presented his own high-regarded radio show on Raidió Na Life. He formed Nine Wassies From Bainne in the early 90s. Episode notes are here.

A short preview of Episode 44 – Ciddy Hall by Nine Wassies From Bainne.

On this episode I’m joined by Jacknife Lee for a deep dive about Compulsion's two albums: Comforter (1994) and The Future is Medium (1996). Jacknife formed Compulsion with Joseph Mary Barry, Sid Rainey and Jan Alkema. Jacknife, Joey and Sid had previously been in Thee Amazing Colossal Men. All this and more is discussed: the Irish music scene of the 80s, and his post-Compulsion career as a producer. Jacknife talks about working with U2, REM, Snow Patrol and recording as Telefís with the late Cathal Coughlan. We start in the Cabra Grand cinema at a Siouxsie and the Banshees gig in 1980 and we work our way up to the present day - it's the longest episode to date, it's a history lesson. Episode notes are ⁠here.

A short video preview of Episode 43 – Comforter and The Future is Medium by by Compulsion.

A short preview of Episode 43 – Comforter and The Future is Medium by by Compulsion.

On this episode I’m joined by Stano for a deep dive into his first album 1983's Content to Write in I Dine Weathercraft. Stano has been a recording artist and composer since the early 80s. He has released over a dozen albums, and numerous singles of startlingly, uncompromising original music. He is regarded as a true innovator, with an intense understanding of sonic structure and always ahead of his time, he has been described as a Sonic Architect. Of the album's 2018 reissue Boomkat wrote: "Content to Write in I Dine Weathercraft is one of those blue moon reissues that, in hindsight, seem to blow away so much other, better known material from the era whence it came. We’re left in no doubt this LP is a true, overlooked classic of its time." Episode notes are ⁠here⁠.

A short preview of Episode 42 – Content to Write in I Dine Weathercraft by Stano.

A short preview of Episode 42 – Content to Write in I Dine Weathercraft by Stano.

On this episode I’m joined by Gerry Leonard for a deep dive into Hinterland, the band he formed in the late 80s with Donal Coughlan, and the duo's 1990 album Kissing the Roof of Heaven. Both Coughlan and Leonard had been in a variety of Dublin bands during the 80s but it wasn’t until they both moved to Copenhagen in 1986 that they got to know each other. Early in 1987 the duo returned to Dublin and formed Hinterland – Coughlan was principally responsible for the lyrics while both concentrated on melodies and arrangements. Demos were recorded for a second album but it wasn’t to be. In the mid-90s Leonard headed for New York with $200 in his pocket and ended up working with Bowie. He’s worked with Suzanne Vega and loads of others and we chat about all of that and more. Coughlan, who was diagnosed with MS in his early 20s, sadly passed away in 2016, he was only 54. Episode notes are here.

A short video preview of Episode 41 – Kissing the Roof of Heaven by Hinterland.

A short preview of Episode 41 – Kissing the Roof of Heaven by Hinterland.

Joining me on this special bonus episode are Dr Richard McMahon (lecturer in History at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick) and Mike Smalle (academic librarian, musician and former frontman of the great Galway band Cane 141) to discuss Bring Your Own Hammer, a collaborative project that brings historians and composers together to create new song cycles based on historical sources and to re-interpret song material rooted in the history of 19th century Ireland and of the Irish Diaspora. My Grief on the Sea, the project's first album, was released recently featuring the late Cathal Coughlan, Mike Smalle, Jah Wobble, Eileen Gogan, Linda Buckley, Adrian Crowley, Michael J Sheehy, Carol Keogh and others. My conversation with Richard and Mike is interspersed with music from the album and Linda Buckley, Carol Keogh and Michael J Sheehy introduce their songs. Episode notes are ⁠⁠here⁠.

On this episode I’m joined by Liam Heffernan and Ricky Dineen from Big Boy Foolish, a post-punk duo from the northside of Cork City who have just released their debut album – Stall the Ball. Ricky was the guitarist in the legendary bands Nun Attax, Five Go Down to the Sea? and Beethoven and Liam Heffernan played guitar with another Cork band Mean Features, and is well known for his acting roles on both stage and screen. Ricky and Liam revisit "Get That Monster Off the Stage" my old radio documentary about their late friend Finbarr Donnelly. We chat about Ciarán Ó Tuama's recent film version of the documentary and the lads talk about about making music in their 60s, the origins of Big Boy Foolish, the writing, recording and release of Stall the Ball and much more. Episode notes are here.

A short video preview of Episode 40 – Hiding From the Landlord by Nun Attax, Five Go Down to the Sea? and Beethoven.

A short preview of Episode 40 – Hiding From the Landlord by Nun Attax, Five Go Down to the Sea? and Beethoven.

On this episode I’m joined by Martin McCann and John Brereton of Dublin band Sack for a deep dive into the making of the band's second album Butterfly Effect. It's a long conversation talking in their first band, Lord John White, moving to London, signing to Lemon Records, touring in the UK, the release of their acclaimed first singles and their debut album, You Are What You Eat, returning to Ireland, Dirt Records, recording with Paul Tipler and Jacknife Lee, touring Europe and the US with Morrissey, staying together, and writing and recording new music. Episode notes are here.

A short preview of Episode 39 – Butterfly Effect by Sack

On this episode I’m joined by Liam McKahey and Davey Ray Moor for a deep dive into Cousteau’s self-titled debut album from 1999. Cousteau were formed in London in the late 90s when singer McKahey, from Cork, hooked up with songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ray Moor, from Canberra. Cousteau’s self-titled debut album was released in 1999 by the small UK indie label, Global Warming. After an appearance on Later With Jools Holland the band were signed by Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures. The band’s debut single ‘The Last Good Day of the Year’ became an international hit and the band’s album was re-released. Cousteau toured the world eventually selling a few hundred thousand albums. Episode notes are ⁠⁠here⁠.

A short video preview of EP38 - Cousteau by Cousteau

A short preview of Episode 38 – Cousteau by Cousteau