The Big Album Show

Renowned Irish songwriter, John Spillane, is set to release a brand new album entitled In Another Light, recorded live with Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.

We talk to John about this album and how he writes such timeless songs.

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IMLÉ - an unconventional band with a unique sound all performed in the Irish Language - return with their second album entitled Fáilte Isteach.

The album is a follow-up to 2017's self-titled debut IMLÉ which was described as "a ray of hope for the future of newly-composed music in Irish" by Nós.ie.

Spearheaded by duo Pádraig 'MC Muipéad' Ó Conghaile (rapper, singer, lyricist, synths & producer) & Cian Mac Cárthaigh (guitar, bass, beats & producer), Fáilte Isteach sees Ó Conghaile & Mac Cárthaigh working with an eclectic group of musicians who make up the latest incarnation of the IMLÉ collective.

Regular contributors Karl Odlum (Producer & multi-instrumentalist), Fergal Moloney (singer-songwriter & producer) & David Hingerty (Drummer & percussionist) return and are joined by bi-lingual vocalist, composer & songwriter Ríona Sally Hartman and Conamara native Róisín Seoighe, who began life as a Sean Nós singer but who is now writes & sings her own newly composed material in Irish, as well as Ross Whyte a Scottish composer, sound artist and one half of Scottish Gael Electronica duo WHYTE.

Lyrically the album covers many different themes - from a call to action against intolerance, xenophobia & racism (Dúiseann Muid Suas) to the highly unrealistic environment of social media with imagery & profiles depicting perfection (ÉAD) but ultimately the message of the album is to celebrate the small beautiful things, the everyday and a shared life - as expressed on their first single from the album Do Chuid Jeans.

The melting pot of musical styles & perspectives creates a body of work that mixes Hip-Hop, Indie, RnB, Trip-Hop and Dance music amongst other genres but ultimately results in a sound that is unique to IMLÉ.

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Exile on Main St. is the 10th studio album by the rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 26 May 1972. It is the culmination of a five-year productive frenzy but also one of the darkest periods in the group's history. The album is stamped with Keith Richards' rock n' roll signature.

Paul Dillon and Dan O'Neill look back at this terrific album.

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Sounds of System Breakdown is a live electronic music project led by London-based Dubliner Rob Costello. Ed Costello and Richie Kelly are the other members of the band.

The project mixes electronica with guitar, drums and bass in a way which adds a unique, live vibe to their sound.

On this episode, we discuss the group's 3rd album Desperate Creatures.

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Luke O'Neill is a professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin.

In 2020 he won the An Post Irish Book of the Year Award for best popular non-fiction book for ‘Never Mind the B*ll*cks Here’s the Science’, published by Gill which was a best seller. He also won the Science Foundation Ireland Science Communicator of the Year Award, for his media work on COVID19.

In 2021 he published 'Keep Calm and Trust the Science- a remarkable year in the Life of an Immunologist' with Gill publishers, which is his diary covering the COVID19 pandemic.

In this episode he tells us why he love Revolver by The Beatles.

Revolver is the seventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 5 August 1966, accompanied by the double A-side single "Eleanor Rigby" / "Yellow Submarine".

Revolver expanded the boundaries of pop music, revolutionised standard practices in studio recording, advanced principles espoused by the 1960s counterculture, and inspired the development of psychedelic rock, electronica, progressive rock and world music.

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Pop is the ninth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Flood, Howie B, and Steve Osborne, and was released on 3 March 1997 on Island Records. The album was a continuation of the band's 1990s musical reinvention, as they incorporated alternative rock, techno, dance, and electronica influences into their sound. Pop employed a variety of production techniques that were relatively new to U2, including sampling, loops, programmed drum machines, and sequencing.

Recording sessions began in 1995 with various record producers, including Nellee Hooper, Flood, Howie B, and Osborne, who were introducing the band to various electronica influences. At the time, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. was inactive due to a back injury, prompting the other band members to take different approaches to songwriting. Upon Mullen's return, the band began re-working much of their material but ultimately struggled to complete songs. After the band allowed manager Paul McGuinness to book their upcoming 1997 PopMart Tour before the record was completed, they felt rushed into delivering it.

We delve into U2's less talked about album.

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The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records. 

Inspired by American experiences, literature, and politics, U2 chose America as a theme for the album. Recording began in January 1986 in Ireland, and to foster a relaxed, creative atmosphere, the group primarily recorded in two houses. 

We discuss the big album. 

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Emma Langford is an Irish singer-songwriter from Limerick City. 

She released her debut album, Quiet Giant, in 2017 – for which she received the Best Emerging Artist award at the inaugural RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards. 

Emma released her second album, Sowing Acorns, in 2020. 

Emma also curates the Limerick Lady Festival, an initiative which aims to promote female musicians to tackle the issue of gender imbalance in the music industry.

In October 2021, it was announced that Langford has been included on the longlist for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in two categories; Album of the Year and Song of the Year.

Paul Dillon and Dan O'Neill talk with Emma about Sowing Acorns.

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Picturehouse are a band from Dublin, Ireland. The band are most famous for their song "Sunburst" from the album Karmarama in Ireland.

In this episode Paula and Dan talk to Dave Browne from the group about the album and dive into their favourite tracks.

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John Harris is a British journalist, writer and critic. He is the author of The Last Party: Britpop, Blair and the Demise of English Rock (2003); So Now Who Do We Vote For?, which examined the 2005 UK general election; a 2006 behind-the-scenes look at the production of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon; and Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll (2009). His articles have appeared in Select, Q, Mojo, Shindig!, Rolling Stone, Classic Rock, The Independent, the New Statesman, The Times and The Guardian.

In 1991, Harris joined Melody Maker. Between 1993 and the summer of 1995, he wrote for the NME. In 1995, he was named editor of Select magazine after a brief stint with Q.

In 1995, Harris resumed his career as a freelance writer, writing about pop music, politics and a variety of other subjects. His articles have appeared in Q, Mojo, Rolling Stone, The Independent, the New Statesman, The Times and The Guardian.

On this episode, we talk to John about Blur by Blur; their 1997 album.

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