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

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 Magnet bar with his first band Amuse; forming Backwards Into Paradise and recording various demos in Dublin; signing to Setanta Records; touring Europe with The Godfathers; signing a major record deal with Nigel Grainge’s Ensign Records; working with The Sound’s Adrian Borland; the writing of music journalist David Cavanagh; playing live with Into Paradise in the UK. We also chat about Moll & Zeis, Dave’s latest album with his old friend Shane O’Neill and we ruminate on the creative and artistic compulsion to continue to create new music regardless of its perceived success or popularity. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-5

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

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 by Shane’s father Seamus O’Neill and Donal Lunny); The Bothy Band’s live album, After Hours; his first band Amuse (with future Into Paradise mainman Dave Long); early punk gigs in Pearse Street’s Magnet bar; the original five-piece version of Micro Disney; the Edge producing Blue in Heaven’s first demo, signing to Island Records; playing gigs with U2 and New Order; working with producer Hugh Jones, Stiff Records boss Dave Robinson and Island Records boss Chris Blackwell; recording in Blackwell’s Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. A lot of our conversation is taken up with a discussion of Blue in Heaven’s time at Strawberry Studios when the band worked with the legendary Factory Records producer Martin Hannett. We come full circle and talk about the beautiful album Moll & Zeis that Shane released this year alongside his old friend Dave Long. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-4

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 the US; circumnavigating American “meet + greet” events; kissing the runway at Knock Airport before handing out condoms at the Marian Shrine; and contemplating the songs on Viva Dead Ponies from a distance of 30 years. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-3

A short video preview of Episode 3 – Viva Dead Ponies by The Fatima Mansions.

A short preview of Episode 3 – Viva Dead Ponies by The Fatima Mansions.

Audience Warning: This episode contains references to child sexual abuse. Released in 1992, Another Day, Another Riot was Toasted Heretic’s third album. It was released by Liquid Records, a subsidiary of Solid Records. Toasted Heretic were from Galway and they preceded Another Day, Another Riot with two cassette-only albums, Songs For Swinging Celibates (1988) and Charm and Arrogance (1989). These albums were followed in 1990 by The SMUG EP, which included ‘They Didn’t Teach Music In My School’ a song about child sex abuse in Ireland. Toasted Heretic’s cassettes were distributed through book and record shops and via mailorder – a cottage industry both physically and geographically outside the Irish Music Industry. Toasted Heretic were: Julian Gough on vocals, Declan Collins and Breffni O'Rourke on guitars, Neil Farrell on drums and Aengus McMahon on bass. Q magazine once declared them, “powerful articulate and original”, while Mother Records described them as - too original. In this episode I discuss the album with Toast Heretic’s singer and lyricist Julian Gough. Our conversation includes a chat about all of Toasted Heretic’s recordings, a discussion about the nature of fame, and the oddity of looking back and re-evaluating art. A novelist, Julian resides in Berlin and is also the author of the successful children’s book series, Rabbit & Bear. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-2

A short video preview of Episode 2 - Another Day, Another Riot by Toasted Heretic.

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

A short preview of Episode 2 - Another Day, Another Riot by Toasted Heretic.

Whipping boy’s second album Heartworm was released on 23 October 1995. I first saw Whipping Boy in the early 90s in Cork. I loved the two Cheree EPs and their debut Submarine. Their gigs were always intense, explosive tinderbox affairs. Then we heard that they’d signed a record deal with Sony. Well this’ll be interesting, we all thought. Heartworm was a revelation. In this episode I discuss the album with Paul Page, the band’s guitarist. We talk about: the influence of seeing of Echo & the Bunnymen at Dublin’s SFX in 1985; Whipping Boy’s early days; passing off songs from Pop Will Eat Itself as their own demo tape to get a gig in Dublin’s Underground; the early Cheree EPs; Submarine; signing to Sony; the writing and recording of Heartworm; touring with Lou Reed; and Heartworm’s reissue. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-1

A short video preview of Episode 1 - Heartworm by Whipping Boy.

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: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-39

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: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-38

A short video preview of EP38 - Cousteau by Cousteau

A short preview of Episode 38 – Cousteau by Cousteau

This episode is a deep dive with Sean O'Hagan on Hawaii by The High Llamas. A long chat, bookended by stories about Arthur Lee and Love, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. In between we touch on everything from Cillian Murphy, The Coral, Mercury Rev, Sean’s 2019 album - Radum Calls, Radum Calls, signing to V2 Records, Gideon Gaye, A&M’s Jerry Moss and Herb Albert’s Almo Sounds, Tim Gane and Stereolab, Cold and Bouncy, Cathal Coughlan, Microdisney and loads more. We also chat about the new High Llamas album - Hey Panda. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-37

A short video preview of EP37 - Hawaii by The High Llamas

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

A short preview of Episode 37 – Hawaii by The High Llamas

This is a special bonus episode of the podcast. An Draíocht is a radio documentary I produced in 2023. With the assistance of Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan, Sliabh Luachra musician in residence, I immerse myself in the music of Sliabh Luachra by going on a quest to track down six Irish traditional vinyl records released in 1977. It was first broadcast on RTÉ Lyric FM on Sunday 12 March 2023. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-5

For this episode I’m joined by Dara Higgins, and brothers Diarmuid MacDiarmada and John Dermody to discuss the Jimmy Cake's second album, Dublin Gone, Everybody Dead. We chat about their first band together, Das Madman, the formation of The Jimmy Cake, the recording of their debut album Brains and how nine (and then ten members) of a band handle the composition of songs. Dublin’s music scene in the early 00s. Our conversation takes in a discussion about the realities of trying to break a band, with ten members, outside of Ireland and support for the Arts in Ireland. Epsiode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-36

A second short preview of Episode 36 – Dublin Gone, Everybody Dead by The Jimmy Cake

A short preview of Episode 36 – Dublin Gone, Everybody Dead by The Jimmy Cake

Carol Keogh joins me to chat about The Tycho Brahe, the band herself, Donal O'Mahony and Diarmuid MacDiarmada formed in 2002. This Is, their debut album was released in 2002 and Love Life, its follow-up was released in 2003. Prior to The Tycho Brahe Carol and Donal were in The Plague Monkeys and before that again Carol, Donal and Diarmuid were in The Low Babies. We also chat about Carol's varied musical guises since The Tycho Brahe - she's written and performed with Autamata and The Natural History Museum as well as releasing music under her own name and collaborating with loads of other artists. We talk about her most recent work as The WICC and much, much more. Epsiode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-35

A short video preview of EP35 - This Is by The Tycho Brahe

A short preview of Episode 35 – This Is by The Tycho Brahe

Dale Grundle and Alice Lemon from Catchers join me to chat about their band Catchers. Formed in Portstewart in the early 90s the band were signed to Setanta Records and moved to London. 'Cotton Dress' their debut single was awarded 'Single of the Week' in Melody Maker and the band recorded Mute, their debut album, with Mike Hedges in France. Mute was critically acclaimed in the music press and Catchers toured Europe with Pulp and Edwyn Collins becoming hugely popular in France. Dale and Alice chat about the Catchers career, the recording of both Mute and Stooping to Fit, their second album. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-34

A short video preview of Episode 34 – Mute by Catchers

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: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-42

A short preview of Episode 34 – Mute by Catchers

Will Merriman joins me to discuss Little Dark Mansion by his band The Harvest Ministers. In a long conversation we discuss: the band’s history; self-releasing their debut single in 1991; its reissue by Sarah Records in 1992; the release of two more singles on Sarah; recording their debut album; signing to Setanta records; releasing two more albums before the end of the 90s; touring with Edwyn Collins in Europe; and recording and releasing three more albums since the millennium and much, much more. Little Dark Mansion has just been reissued on vinyl for the first time since its original 1993 release. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-33

A short video preview of Episode 33 – Little Dark Mansion by The Harvest Ministers