To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited

In this episode we discuss the early days of Power of Dreams, Craig talks about learning classical guitar from the age of 11, the influence of an English teacher in school, buying his first electric guitar at 14, rehearsing in the bedroom he shared with brother Keith, recording a demo with Stano and releasing their first EP on Setanta. We chat about recording Immigrants, Emigrants and Me in London...

A short preview of Episode 12 – Immigrants, Emigrants and Me by Power of Dreams

In this episode Cathal joins me to discuss Black River Falls , his second solo album released in 2000 on Cooking Vinyl. We chat about those years between The Fatima Mansions and the release of Black River Falls, touring Ireland with the Nine Wassies From Bainne in 1997, singing with Nina Hynes and Mimi Goese at two Hector Zazou shows, supporting Arto Lindsay, training his voice and recording with...

A short preview of Episode 11 – Black River Falls by Cathal Coughlan

Episode ten focuses on Room to Roam by The Waterboys. While touring Fisherman’s Blues the four-piece Waterboys of Mike Scott, Steve Wickham, Anto Thistlethwaite and Trevor Hutchinson was augmented by Sharon Shannon, Colin Blakey and Noel Bridgeman and it was this seven-piece line-up – The Magnificent Seven as Noel Bridgeman named them – that recorded the fifth Waterboys album Room to Roam. In this...

A short preview of Episode 10 – Room to Roam by The Waterboys

Episode nine focuses on Chicks Dig Scars by Wormhole. Formed in the early 90s the band were a three-piece from Ringsend in Dublin and in 1994 released Chicks Dig Scars, their debut album, on Dead Elvis Records. Wormhole were Graham Blackmore and twins Anto and Dave Carroll. Graham played guitar and sang, Dave played the drums and sang, and Anto played the bass guitar. Wormhole became The Wormholes...

A short preview of Episode 9 – Chicks Dig Scars by Wormhole 

Episode 8 focuses on Revelino's self-titled 1994 debut album. Revelino emerged in 1994 fully formed. They were an incredibly tight, professional unit with a three-guitar sonic attack, soaring harmonies and great, great pop songs. Revelino were from Balinteer at the base of the Dublin mountains and had formed after the demise of their previous band The Coltranes. On this episode I’m joined by B...

A short video preview of Episode 8 – Revelino by Revelino.

A short preview of Episode 8 – Revelino by Revelino

Episode seven focuses on The Stars of Heaven and their two albums Sacred Heart Hotel (1986) and Speak Slowly (1988). The band were formed in Dublin in 1983 and disbanded in early 1990. They released their debut 7” single ‘Clothes of Pride’ on Hotwire Records in 1985. John Peel picked up on the single and the band were offered a BBC session. Within days of the session being broadcast in January 198...

A short preview of Episode 7 – Sacred Heart Hotel & Speak Slowly by The Stars of Heaven.

A short preview of Episode 7 – Sacred Heart Hotel & Speak Slowly by The Stars of Heaven

Following on from episode 6, this is a bonus episode - a short feature focusing on the restoration of Michael O’Shea’s instrument he called Mo Chara (my friend). After the reissue of Michael's album his family loaned artist and musician Stano one of two surviving iterations of Michael’s Mo Chara that they’ve had since his untimely death back in December 1991. The instrument had lain idle for a...

Episode six focuses on Michael O'Shea's self-titled 1982 album. Michael O’Shea played an instrument made from a door that he called “Mo Chara” (my friend). His 1982 album, is regarded as a landmark cult classic. The instrument was inspired by the Hammered Dulcimer, but Michael added amplification and effects lending it a strong sense of otherworldliness. Its sound is steeped in Celtic unde...

A video short preview of Episode 6 – Michael O'Shea by Michael O'Shea.

A short preview of Episode 6 – Michael O'Shea by Michael O'Shea.

Episode five focuses on the first two albums by Into Paradise - Under the Water (1990) and Churchtown (1991). Keith Cullen released Under the Water on Setanta Records and then the band subsequently made the jump to Ensign Records for its major label follow-up, Churchtown before returning once more to Setanta for two further albums. My conversation with Dave Long takes in: playing punk gigs in the...

A short video preview of Episode 5 – Under the Water & Churchtown by Into Paradise.

A short preview of Episode 5 – Under the Water & Churchtown by Into Paradise.

This episode focuses on two albums by Blue in Heaven. The Dublin band released two albums on Island Records - All the God’s Men (1985) and Explicit Material (1986). These are very different records and sound at times almost as if they were created by two different bands. Blue in Heaven frontman Shane O’Neill, joins me for a discussion that takes in landmark Irish record label Mulligan Records (run...

A short preview of Episode 4 – All the God's Men & Explicit Material by Blue in Heaven.

A short video preview of Episode 4 – All the God's Men & Explicit Material by Blue in Heaven.

This episode focuses on Viva Dead Ponies by The Fatima Mansions. Viva Dead Ponies - the second album by The Fatima Mansions - was released in late 1990 on Kitchenware Records. Cathal Coughlan discusses the writing and recording of what many consider to be the band’s greatest album. The conversation takes in: Microdisney ending and starting The Fatima Mansions; gigs the band played in Ireland and t...