To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited

A second short preview of Episode 23 – ...If I Die, I Die by Virgin Prunes

A short preview of Episode 23 – ...If I Die, I Die by Virgin Prunes

In this episode Raymond Gorman and Steve Mack join me to chat about Chemicrazy, That Petrol Emotion’s fourth album, but we end up have a long chat about the band’s entire career: forming in Derry after the split of The Undertones, moving to London, The Fast Show's Paul Whitehouse auditioning, Steve joining the band, the highs and lows of ten years together, recording Manic Pop Thrill with Hugh...

A second short preview of Episode 22 – Chemicrazy by That Petrol Emotion

A short preview of Episode 22 – Chemicrazy by That Petrol Emotion

In this episode Andy Cairns joins me to chat about the writing and recording of Therapy’s debut album Nurse released on A&M records in 1992. In a long conversation we discuss: Therapy’s move from Wiija Records to A&M and accusations from the time of “selling out”; the band’s 30th anniversary and recent tours; early gigs with Babes in Toyland; the influence of Belgian New Beat; writing Nurs...

A second short preview of Episode 21 – Nurse by Therapy?

A short preview of Episode 21 – Nurse by Therapy?

A bonus episode before Season 2 begins. This episode doesn't revisit an Irish album, but instead details an incredible Irish music story. Fail We May, Sail We Must – the story of how a chance meeting in 2008 between Andrew Weatherall, the world-renowned DJ, producer and remixer, and Gerard Sheehy, a Co. Cork fisherman inspired Weatherall to use the phrase “Fail We May, Sail We Must” as a perso...

Season 1 ends with the story of Microdisney. For this episode I revisit Iron Fist in Velvet Glove - the story of Microdisney, my documentary from 2017. It tells how Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan met in Cork at a New Year’s Eve party in 1979 and formed a band. Microdisney went through several incarnations before Cathal and Sean upped sticks to London in July 1983. Over the course of the next fiv...

A short preview of Episode 20 – The Clock Comes Down the Stairs by Microdisney

This episode focuses on 1977 by Ash, released on Infectious Records in 1996. Tim Wheeler joins me to talk about: the band's earliest days, recording demo tapes, signing to Infectious, recording with Owen Morris in Rockfield, the writing process of the songs on 1977, supporting Therapy? and Babes in Toyland, revising for A-Levels while doing press interviews, the rollercoaster of touring betwee...

A short preview of Episode 19 – 1977 by Ash

This episode focuses on Grand Parade by The Frank & Walters, released on Setanta Records in 1997. Paul Linehan and Ashley Keating join me to talk about: the band's initial success in the UK; touring in support of their first album; returning to Cork after two and half years; recharging their batteries for a few years in the mid-90s, writing songs for Grand Parade, working with producers Ed...

A short preview of Episode 18 – Grand parade by The Frank & Walters

This episode focuses on A House's second album I Want Too Much released on Blanco Y Negro Records in 1990. Dave Couse and Fergal Bunbury join me to talk about: meeting producer Mike Hedges and recording I Want Too Much on Inisbofin off the Galway coast, the Abbey Road sound desk and equipment that Mike Hedges brought to Inisbofin, mixing the album in Abbey Road, signing to Setanta Records, wor...

A short preview of Episode 17 – I Want Too Much by A House

This episode focuses on two albums by Rollerskate Skinny. Shoulder Voices was released on Beggars Banquet sub-label Placebo in 1993 and Horsedrawn Wishes followed in 1996 on Warner Bros. These are two magnificent albums, the band also gifted us ‘Speed to My Side’, one of the greatest Irish singles ever. Rollerskate Skinny mainman Ken Griffin joins me for a discussion that takes in the band's e...

A short preview of Episode 16 – Shoulder Voices & Horsedrawn Wishes by Rollerskate Skinny

The story of Stump, the Irish-English experimental, rock band from the 1980s. For this episode I revisit Lights! Camel! Action! - the story of Stump, my documentary from 2016. The members of Stump and key figures in their story (legendary producer Hugh Jones, journalists Simon Reynolds and John Robb, Nigel Grainge from Ensign Records, Elvera Butler from the Downtown Kampus at the Arcadia in Cork,...

A short preview of Episode 15 – A Fierce Pancake by Stump

"No Irish band has ever attempted anything as ambitious as Ghostown, and no one ever will. Why should it? It has been done and, like Pet Sounds, it's a monument forever" (George Byrne, Sunday Times, 1998) . Ghostown was recorded in 1978 and released over a year later in August 1979. In this episode I’m joined by The Radiators's Pete Holidai to discuss Ghostown. Our chat covers a...

A short preview of Episode 14 – Ghostown by The Radiators

Released in 2002, Staros was the first full-length album from Nina Hynes. Staros celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and it's the youngest album I’ve featured on the podcast to date. In this episode Nina joins me to chat about the album and more: her earliest memories of music; writing her first song at the age of 8; taking up piano and later the guitar; busking on Grafton St; being intr...

A short preview of Episode 13 – Staros by Nina Hynes