To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited

On this episode I’m joined by Aindrías Ó Grúama aka “Grimmo” and Nick Allum, respectively the guitarist and drummer of The Fatima Mansions, for a deep dive into Against Nature, the band’s debut album which was originally released on Kitchenware Records in 1989. We discuss the formation of the band by Cathal Coughlan, the recording sessions for Against Nature and the singles ‘Only Losers Take the Bus’ and ‘Blues For Ceausescu’ and a whole lot more. “Against Nature is a thoroughly fine LP. To those who’ve ever doubted him or stood in his way, this is Coughlan’s savoured two finger salute. 9/10” Steve Lamacq (NME, 25 November, 1989). Episode Notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-61

On this episode I’m joined by journalist and author Patrick Freyne for a deep dive into NPB and El Diablo, his two late 90s/early 00s Dublin bands. NPB were a garage rock band and El Diablo were an alt-country band. Freyne's debut novel, Experts in a Dying Field has just been published. It tells the story of Dublin band The Heathens, the self-described 1000th best band of all time. Their tour van crashes and one of their members dies. It’s a witty novel about friendship, memory, grief and of losing your 20s in the back of van with your buddies. It’s inspired by the Dublin music scene of the early 00s and it describes a time before the Celtic Tiger, gentrification, IT hubs and out of control rents changed Dublin for ever. Episode notes: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-60

Music journalist and author Simon Reynolds chats about his new book Still In A Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock 1984-1994. My Bloody Valentine are the central group in the book, but in this conversation we touch on many of its themes including: MBV and Slowdive being discovered by new audiences; early REM and Cocteau Twins; A.R. Kane and “dreampop”; The Smiths; Throwing Muses; Pixies; Dinosaur Jr; slackers and dole culture in the 80s; music journalism in the 80s; Sonic Youth and Daydream Nation; the popularity of MBV today and why shoegaze has survived. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-10

On this episode I’m joined by Andy White, to chat about 1986's Rave On Andy White, his debut album which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. We chat about living in Dún Laoghaire in the mid-90s; Belfast in the 70s and 80s; Terri Hooley and Good Vibrations; The Clash in Belfast; John Cooper Clarke; John Peel; Billy Bragg; manager Peter Jenner; Dave Robinson and Stiff Records; Tom Verlaine and Television; Janice Long; Peace Together; Sinéad O’Connor; WOMAD; producer John Leckie; recording in Abbey Road and living in Melbourne. Episode notes: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-59

On this episode I’m joined by David Kitt to talk about The Big Romance. Our chat takes in: the writing and recording of 2000's Small Moments, his debut record on Rough Trade Records; the recording of The Big Romance, its release and huge success; touring Europe; further albums including 2006's Not Fade Away; touring with and eventually joining Tindersticks; re-recording The Big Romance in advance of its 25th anniversary and a whole lot more. Episode notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-58.

A short preview of Episode 58 – The Big Romance by David Kitt

An archive interview with Nigel Grainge on setting up Ensign Records, signing Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, The Waterboys, Sinéad O’Connor, Into Paradise and Stump, and other stories. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-9

On this episode I’m joined by Bob Geldof to talk about The Boomtown Rats' second album, A Tonic For the Troops. Our chat goes in many different directions: Ireland of the 1970s, signing to Ensign Records, working with producer Mutt Lange, the Catholic Church in Ireland, The Boomtown Rats at 50, ‘Rat Trap’ hitting No. 1 in the UK and more. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-57

Stuart Bailie is a former assistant editor of the NME. From Belfast, he played in Punk bands in the late 70s and early 80s. In 1985 he sold his guitar and bought a typewriter. He headed to London and started writing for Record Mirror. He has just published "The Song is Nearly Over: Music Stories 1985-2025". We chat about growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, 40 years of music journalism, some of his favourite Irish albums and a whole lot more. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-8

On this episode I’m joined by Matthew Devereux for a deep dive into Here’s One We Made Earlier the debut album by The Pale. We discuss the band’s early days, signing to A&M Records, recording their debut album in 1992, the album’s three singles (‘Dogs With No Tails’, ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Shut Up Venus’), becoming a self-sufficient band post major label deals, absurdity in music, creating a character on stage, the band’s unique sound, fusing Irish and Eastern music, and a whole lot more. We also talk about Keep Sketch, the second album under Matthew’s own name, that he released earlier this year. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-56