A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.
Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited

A playlist of old radio interviews recorded for Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM.

From the Archives

Documentaries produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions. Further Information: www.paulmcdermott.ie

Audio Documentaries

The story of a chance meeting in 2008 between Andrew Weatherall, the world-renowned DJ, producer and remixer, and Gerard Sheehy, a Co. Cork fisherman. How this meeting inspired Weatherall to use the phrase “Fail We May, Sail We Must” as a personal mantra and how the phrase, in turn, has become an inspiration for thousands of others. It details how in 2021, on the first anniversary of Weatherall’s death, Sheehy was identified as the source of the phrase and tells how the two disparate worlds of the music and fishing industries collided. 

Produced by Paul McDermott.
Sound supervision by Kieran Hurley.
A Learn & Sing production for UCC98.3FM, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.
Further info: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/fail-we-may

Fail We May, Sail We Must - A Tribute to Andrew Weatherall

Dancing in the Disco – the story of The Sultans of Ping tells the band’s story from humble beginnings in Cork to topping the Indie Chart in the UK, touring the world, releasing three albums and sharing stages with their heroes, the Ramones. The band’s debut single, ‘Where’s Me Jumper?’ is one of the most instantly recognisable songs of the last 30 years. It defies genres, ages, borders and scenes, and has seeped into the pop culture firmament. The song has been used to soundtrack film and TV and ultimately has become bigger than the band itself – it is a song of the people. The documentary includes contributions from band members, industry insiders, friends and critics. 

A Learn & Sing production for RTÉ 2xm, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.

Dancing in the Disco - the story of The Sultans of Ping

Sean O’Hagan – Microdisney/The High Llamas 
“Paul McDermott is the cultural historian who had the foresight to document a period in Cork’s musical journey which seemed to be the present, but of course crept on us as history. Us being the Fives, the Stumps and the Disneys, we, a collection of men now in our 60s who would never have captured a sense of what it was to be making new music in 80s Cork. Paul was young enough to oversee from a distance, and old enough to realise that this work had to be done. We have lost a few, but Paul was there to capture some living moments. I doubt if the Microdisney reunion would have happened if it was not for Paul's preparatory documentaries. We are a happy proud bunch now, partly because Paul has enlightened us to what we had.”

The documentary details how Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan met in Cork in 1980 and formed Mircodisney. The duo moved to London in 1983 and released four critically acclaimed albums for Rough Trade and Virgin records before disbanding in 1988. Microdisney’s 1985 album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs topped the UK Indie Charts upon its release and regularly features at the top of “the best Irish album of all time” lists.

A Learn & Sing production for UCC98.3FM, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee. Further info: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/iron-fist-in-velvet-glove

Iron Fist in Velvet Glove - the story of Microdisney

Lights! Camel! Action! – The Story of Stump is a documentary about Stump, the Anglo-Irish experimental, rock band from the 1980s. The documentary has been in production for the past year and sadly in November 2015 Mick Lynch, the enigmatic front man and lyricist with the band fell ill and passed away on 17 December, 2015. 

Stump were one of the bright lights of the mid-80s UK indie music scene. Their music was a dense, complicated, experimental repertoire of angular riffs, rhythms and beats which used shifting time signatures twisting around Mick’s surreal lyrical output. They made abrasive music but with a keen pop sensibility. They always felt out of place and out of time.

This documentary is more than the story of Stump, it’s a story that also encompasses the history of the UK independent music scene of the 1980s. It’s the story of indie record labels, satellite major labels and the mavericks who ran them. It records a time when the UK weekly music newspapers, the BBC’s John Peel, and Channel 4’s The Tube TV show reigned supreme. It’s the story of fanzines and underground gig circuits; big budgets being spent on recording studios and expensive videos. Stump’s story is also a microcosm of the wider social, cultural and political history of Ireland’s mid-80s emigrant community in London.

A Learn & Sing production for UCC98.3FM, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.

Lights! Camel! Action! - the story of Stump

In an effort to immerse himself in the music of Sliabh Luachra producer Paul McDermott goes on a quest to track down six Irish trad vinyl records released in 1977. He is assisted by Eoin Stan O’Sullivan, Sliabh Luachra musician in residence. Together they travel to Cork and Kerry visiting villages and townlands surrounding the River Blackwater trying to describe the magic of this music and its origins in the “rushy mountain”. Along the way we hear stories of the Sliabh Luachra masters and meet musicians young and old. As the quest climaxes, the realisation dawns that the producer’s embrace of this tradition’s past is only matched by O’Sullivan’s compulsion to safeguard its future.   
  
Presenter/Producer: Paul McDermott
Producer for RTÉ Lyric fm: Eoin O Kelly

The interview with Paddy Jones was recorded by Ailbhe Keogan and Michael Kelly, used with permission. 
Paddy Jones sadly passed away on 30th May 2020.

A Learn & Sing production for RTÉ Lyric fm, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.

An Draíocht - the music of Sliabh Luachra

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP01 - Heartworm by Whipping Boy

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP02 - Another Day, Another Riot by Toasted Heretic

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP03 - Viva Dead Ponies  by The Fatima Mansions

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP04 - All the God’s Men & Explicit Material  by Blue in Heaven

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP05 - Under the Water & Churchtown  by Into Paradise

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP07 - Sacred Heart Hotel & Speak Slowly by The Stars of Heaven

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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 new collaborators. We also chat about Telefís his musical project with old friend Jacknife Lee and the release of the duo’s first album Telefís a h-Aon.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP11 - Black River Falls by Cathal Coughlan

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

This episode focuses on A House's second album I Want Too Much released on Blanco Y Negro Records in 1990. Dave Couse and Fergal Bunbury join me to talk about: meeting producer Mike Hedges and recording I Want Too Much on Inisbofin off the Galway coast, the Abbey Road sound desk and equipment that Mike Hedges brought to Inisbofin, mixing the album in Abbey Road, signing to Setanta Records, working with Edwyn Collins on I Am the Greatest, releasing ‘Endless Art’, signing with Parlophone Records and reissuing ‘Endless Art’, the Pre Extinction Tapes – the archive project that Fergal and Dave have been working on to document A House’s entire recording career, and recording No More Apologies with Mike Hedges in France. Dave talks about working with The Frank & Walters on their Grand Parade album, and much more. Dave and Fergal also chat about reconvening in 2019 as A House is Dead to perform I AM the Greatest at the NCH. 

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP17 - I Want Too Much by A House

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

This episode focuses on Grand Parade by The Frank & Walters, released on Setanta Records in 1997. Paul Linehan and Ashley Keating join me to talk about: the band's initial success in the UK; touring in support of their first album; returning to Cork after two and half years; recharging their batteries for a few years in the mid-90s, writing songs for Grand Parade, working with producers Edwyn Collins and Dave Couse, Polygram buying Go! Discs and returning to Setanta, the song-writing process, the renewed resurgence of interest in the band, touring abroad, the power of songs, the enduring popularity of 'After All' and much more. 

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP18 - Grand Parade by The Frank & Walters

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

The story of Microdisney. For this episode I revisit Iron Fist in Velvet Glove - the story of Microdisney, my documentary from 2017. It tells how Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan met in Cork at a New Year’s Eve party in 1979 and formed a band. Microdisney went through several incarnations before Cathal and Sean upped sticks to London in July 1983. Over the course of the next five years they released two albums on Rough Trade Records and a further two on Virgin Records before disbanding in 1988. One of those records was 1985’s The Clock Comes Down the Stairs. The album topped the UK Indie Charts upon its release and has regularly featured at the top of “the best Irish album of all time” lists. Contributors include the members of Microdisney and key figures in their story including: Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Geoff Travis (Rough Trade), Richard Boon (New Hormones), Elvera Butler (Downtown Kampus at the Arcadia in Cork), Jamie Lane (producer of The Clock) and many more. Cathal Coughlan sadly passed away on 18 may, 2022 and this Episode is dedicated to his memory.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP20 - The Clock Comes Down the Stairs by Microdisney

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

In this episode Andy Cairns joins me to chat about the writing and recording of Therapy’s debut album Nurse released on A&M records in 1992. In a long conversation we discuss: Therapy’s move from Wiija Records to A&M and accusations from the time of “selling out”; the band’s 30th anniversary and recent tours; early gigs with Babes in Toyland; the influence of Belgian New Beat; writing Nurse in a farmhouse in Co. Carlow; recording at Loco Studios in Wales; the release of ‘Teethgrinder’ as their debut single on A&M; early support from John Peel; the band’s background growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles; attending gigs in Belfast in the late 80s and early 90s; touring America with The Screaming Trees; the remastering of both Babyteeth and Pleasure Death; the SharpShortShock EP, Troublegum and working with producer Chris Sheldon; playing Monsters of Rock at Donnington Castle 1994; Therapy’s cover version of Hüsker Dü’s ‘Diane’ and Andy’s heroes Grant Hart and Pete Shelley and more.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP21 - Nurse by Therapy?

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

A bonus episode. This episode doesn't revisit an Irish album, but instead details an incredible Irish music story. Fail We May, Sail We Must – the story of how a chance meeting in 2008 between Andrew Weatherall, the world-renowned DJ, producer and remixer, and Gerard Sheehy, a Co. Cork fisherman inspired Weatherall to use the phrase “Fail We May, Sail We Must” as a personal mantra and get it tattooed on his arms. The documentary tells how the phrase, in turn has become an inspiration for thousands of others. It details how in 2021, on the first anniversary of Weatherall’s death, Sheehy was identified as the source of the phrase and tells how the two disparate worlds of the music and fishing industries collided. First broadcast on UCC98.3FM, 17 February 2022 with sound supervision by Kieran Hurley. Recently this documentary was broadcast on Australian radio and at the end of the episode you’ll also hear me chatting to the Australian broadcaster Axel Moline all about this production.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW Bonus EP02 - Fail We May, Sail We Must, a tribute to Andrew Weatherall

The story of Irish musician Michael O’Shea, who 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, 25 August 2019. Further Information: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/no-journeys-end

No Journeys End - the story of Michael O'Shea

I interviewed Sufjan on 27 October, 2004 prior to his gig at the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity College, Dublin. Seven Swans was just out and in this old interview for Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM. Sufjan chats about recording the album with Daniel Smith of The Danielson Famile. 
More information here: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/blog/sufjan-stevens-interview
www.paulmcdermott.ie

Songs to Learn and Sing

From the Archives - Sufjan Stevens Interview (2004)

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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 are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-34

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP34 - Mute by Catchers

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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 it’s follow-up. 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. Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-36

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP36 - Dublin Gone, Everybody Dead by The Jimmy Cake

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

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 are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-37

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP37 - Hawaii by The High Llamas

Originally broadcast on Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM. This interview is from January 2009. Colin Blunstone chats about his career with The Zombies and his solo records. We talked about his Neil MacArthur recordings and his trio of early 70s solo records: One Year, Ennismore and Journey. Colin was a great interviewee and I must admit that I was absolutely thrilled to be talking to him about his records because I'm such a huge fan. He was really gracious with his time and was happy to chat about the recording of Odessey and Oracle, working with arranger Chris Dunning, his working relationship with Rod Argent and his (then) latest record The Ghost of You And Me.
More Information here: paulmcdermott.ie/blog/colin-blunstone-and-the-zombies

www.paulmcdermott.ie/

From the Archives - Colin Blunstone of The Zombies (2009)

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

On this episode I’m joined by Gerry Leonard for a deep dive into Hinterland, the band he formed in the late 80s with Donal Coughlan, and the duo's 1990 album Kissing the Roof of Heaven. Both Coughlan and Leonard had been in a variety of Dublin bands during the 80s but it wasn’t until they both moved to Copenhagen in 1986 that they got to know each other. Early in 1987 the duo returned to Dublin and formed Hinterland – Coughlan was principally responsible for the lyrics while both concentrated on melodies and arrangements. Demos were recorded for a second album but it wasn’t to be. In the mid-90s Leonard headed for New York with $200 in his pocket and ended up working with Bowie. He’s worked with Suzanne Vega and loads of others and we chat about all of that and more. Coughlan, who was diagnosed with MS in his early 20s, sadly passed away in 2016, he was only 54. Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-41

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP41 - Kissing the Roof of Heaven by Hinterland

John Peel introduces The Fatima Mansions.

To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited 
Episode 3 - Viva Dead Ponies by The Fatima Mansions
https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-3

Peel on The Fatima Mansions

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

On this episode I’m joined by Brian Brannigan from A Lazarus Soul for a deep dive about the band's fifth album, 2019's The D They Put Between the R & L. Our conversation takes in Brian's first band Sub Assembly and the different incarnations of A Lazarus Soul since the release of the band's first album in 2002. We talk about how Brian's writing has changed over the years, how he eventually found his authentic voice and how he draws inspiration from the Dublin he grew up in. We also discuss the band's latest album, No Flowers Grow in Cement Gardens. Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-49

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP49 - The D They Put Between the R & L by A Lazarus Soul

I interviewed Robert Forster on 8 September 2017 for my documentary Iron Fist in Velvet Glove - the story of Microdisney. In his book Grant & I, Robert described Microdisney’s Cathal Coughlan as “one of London’s secret heroes”. Short extracts of this interview were utilised in that documentary and the section of the interview about Grant & I was broadcast on my radio show, Songs to Learn and Sing. But this is the full interview. We chatted about how The Go-Betweens and Microdisney met while practising nextdoor to each other in Camden; Microdisney supporting The Go-Betweens at the Town & Country Club in London; the tough economic realities for both bands in London; Rough Trade Records in the 80s; The Go-Betweens touring around Europe; The Go-Betweens first time in Dublin playing the Trinity Ball in 1986; the process of writing his biography, and loads more. More Information here: paulmcdermott.ie/blog/colin-bluns…-and-the-zombies

www.paulmcdermott.ie/

From the Archives - Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens (2017)

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

Danny Kelly is a former editor of the NME and Q magazine, He’s had a long and illustrious career in broadcasting. He was born in Islington in London, to Irish parents. In recent years Danny moved back to Ireland. In a long conversation we chat about all sorts of things: growing up in an Irish community in London; the Irish diaspora and his Irishness; how he got a start in music journalism; his years at the NME; and the intense rivalry between the music weeklies of the late 80s. And of course there’s loads of talk about music and records. He’s as enthusiastic about new music as he always has been and talks with passion about Lankum, Kneecap and Fontaines DC as well as loads of chat about some of his favourite Irish albums. Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-7

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW Bonus EP7 - Danny Kelly's favourite Irish albums

Originally broadcast on Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM. In 2005 Toasted Heretic released Now In New Nostalgia Flavour which compiled their first two cassette albums (Songs For Swinging Celibates and Charm and Arrogance). The band played a gig in Dublin to promote the release and I spoke to Julian before he took to the stage in Whelan's. Julian chats about how Toasted Heretic recorded and released those first two albums from the band's hometown of Galway. The move to a record label for the third album, touring France, and eventually calling it a day. Julian also introduces 'Galway Bay' and 'LSD (Isn't What It Used To Be)'.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/

From the Archives - Julian Gough of Toasted Heretic (2005)

John Peel introduces Zerra One.
Zerra One were formed in London in early 1982 by Paul Bell and Aindrias Ó Gruama (aka Grimmo). Paul is from Wexford and Aindrias is from Dublin. As a duo they supported amongst others: Cocteau Twins, The Monochrome Set, The Teardrop Explodes, Siouxsie and the Banchees and U2. They were also asked by Robert Smith to support The Cure on the band’s 1982 Fourteen Explicit Moments tour of the UK and Pornography tour of Europe.

The story of that tour is told here: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/blog/zerra-one-and-the-cure

Peel on Zerra One

I Interviewed Dave Simpson for Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM upon publication of his book The Fallen: Searching for the Missing Members of The Fall. We'd a great chat about his quest to track down all the ex-members of The Fall. I regaled Dave with my own MES encounter, which involved operating a slide projector for a Fall gig in 1997.

www.paulmcdermott.ie/

From the Archives - The Fallen by Dave Simpson (2008)

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

This is a bonus episode of the podcast. Dave Hackett interviewed me on UCC98.3FM in August 2023. I’m reposting the episode here. Dave asked me all about how I got into producing radio documentaries, the ethos of community radio broadcasting, how To Here Knows When came about and a whole lot more. Some listeners to my podcast enjoy this interview.Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-4

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW Bonus EP4 - UCC98.3 FM, Dave Hackett in conversation with Paul McDermott

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

To mark Cathal Coughlan’s third anniversary Episode 50 is devoted to his 2021 album, Song of Co-Aklan. It was the sixth album under Cathal’s own name, it was released on 31 March 2021 and this interview with Cathal was first broadcast on Songs to Learn and Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM on 07 April 2021. Cathal talks about writing the songs for Song of Co-Aklan, and he introduced a couple of songs from it. We talked about what Microdisney’s reunion meant to him; Telefís, his collaboration (as then unreleased) with Jacknife Lee; the documentaries of Adam Curtis and we also talked about Commandment 6 of Cathal’s "Ten Commandments of Gig": Don’t play in car showrooms. That’s very good advice for any young band out there. Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-50

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP50 - Song of Co-Aklan by Cathal Coughlan

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

Brian is Ken Sweeney and Understand was his debut mini-album released on Setanta records in 1992. Ken chats about Dublin music in the 70s and 80s, the early 90s indie scene in London, the full history of Brian, Setanta Records, being Irish in London in the 90s, Bring Trouble (the second Brian album from 1999), Ken’s 25+ years working as an entertainment journalist and his great music documentaries. We also talk at length about Needle Mythology’s reissue which they’ve titled Understood, it complies Understand, the Planes EP and more.

Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-51

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP51 - Understand by Brian

A music podcast about iconic Irish albums. Each episode takes a deep dive into the making of an album with one of its creators.

In this episode I’m joined by Cypress, Mine! members Ciarán Ó Tuama, Ian Olney and Mark Healy to tell the story of the band and a whole lot more. Cypress, Mine! formed in 1984, they released three singles and the album Exit Trashtown (Solid Records, 1988), before disbanding in 1989. Morty McCarthy from The Sultans of Ping and Craig Walker from Power of Dreams also contribute their memories of Cypress, Mine! to this episode.

Episode notes are here: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-52

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.
www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast

THKW EP52 - Exit Trashtown by Cypress, Mine!

Paul McDermott
educator
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documentary producer
writer

Paul McDermott

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