To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited – Details, episodes & analysis

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: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-43

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

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: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-40

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 1986 Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis had offered to release the recordings. The band added three more songs that were recorded with Chris O’Brien in Dublin and the resulting mini-album Sacred Heart Hotel was released by Rough Trade Records in September 1986. Speak Slowly, their second album, followed in June 1988. The Stars of Heaven were Stephen Ryan on vocals and guitar, Stan Erraught on guitar, Peter O’Sullivan on bass guitar and Bernard Walsh on drums. Stephen and Stan both wrote songs and Stephen sang them. They were once described as, “Ireland's answer to The Byrds, Gram Parsons and the Velvet Underground all in one package.” Stan Erraught joins me to talk about the highs and lows of the band's career. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-7

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 almost 30 years when Stano asked percussionist Thomas Haugh to help restore it. Michael played the Mo Chara on Stano’s debut album and now almost 40 years later Stano and Thomas are recording with the Mo Chara again. It’s a spiritual story about how musical instruments have a life of their own. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-1

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 undertones but also resonant with the cultures Michael had absorbed on his travels in the East. This is a portrait of a musician who went AWOL from the British Army, spent time as a relief worker in Bangladesh, supported Ravi Shankar at the Royal Festival Hall and played with some of the biggest names in jazz including Alice Coltrane, Don Cherry and Archie Shepp. First broadcast on RTÉ Lyric FM. Interviewees include Michael's sister Rita, Graham Lewis (Wire), Gavin Friday (Virgin Prunes), Stano and a host of others. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-6