Compared to many bands, a lot of those Peel sessions are different enough that you do need to hear. I'd aver that most are better than the "official" studio versions, though it's all good.
― crustaceanrebel, Monday, 20 January 2014 02:14 (ten years ago) link
Cathal's spoken outros were brilliant.
― doug watson, Monday, 20 January 2014 13:57 (ten years ago) link
https://www.nch.ie/Online/Microdisney-02Jun18?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fbpost&utm_campaign=Microdisney&utm_content=announce
― Freedom, Monday, 27 November 2017 15:06 (six years ago) link
That's great news.
This might also be of interest: https://soundcloud.com/ucc98-3fm/iron-fist-in-velvet-glove-the-story-of-microdisney
Iron Fist in Velvet Glove – the story of Microdisneyproduced by Paul McDermottIron Fist in Velvet Glove – the story of Microdisney is a 60 minute radio documentary produced by Paul McDermott for UCC98.3FM and funded through the television licence fee under the BAI’s Sound & Vision scheme.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” list
Iron Fist in Velvet Glove – the story of Microdisney is a 60 minute radio documentary produced by Paul McDermott for UCC98.3FM and funded through the television licence fee under the BAI’s Sound & Vision scheme.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” list
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 27 November 2017 15:16 (six years ago) link
i got a ticket! it sold out pretty fast actually
― Well bissogled trotters (Michael B), Wednesday, 29 November 2017 15:08 (six years ago) link
AHH FUCK why didn't see this two days ago?? I've had Microdisney on my mp3 player all week as well, really feeling them at this time of year.
This is probably never going to happen again, is it.
― Pheeel, Wednesday, 29 November 2017 23:00 (six years ago) link
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2018/event/microdisney
― Freedom, Thursday, 14 December 2017 19:19 (six years ago) link
I wonder what a new Microdisney album would sound like. Probably a bit mind-blowing?
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 15 December 2017 14:41 (six years ago) link
probably never going to happen
i'm just imagining an extremely well produced album full of very lush string arrangements
and it sounds really weird in my head
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 15 December 2017 19:20 (six years ago) link
According to that documentary mentioned upthread, the unrecorded fifth album would probably have been produced by Don Was! What could've been, eh.
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, December 15, 2017 7:20 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Some as yet unheard middle-ground between the Wilson-esque opulence of the Llamas and the stripped-down starkness of Cathal's solo material? I'm not sure what that would be like, but I do want to hear it.
― Pheeel, Friday, 15 December 2017 21:08 (six years ago) link
I love almost all of Cathal's work, and you can't maintain that level of anger without burning yourself up, but I miss the sheer bile and spleen-venting of Fatima Mansions.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 15 December 2017 21:49 (six years ago) link
Realized the song "Genius" probably comes close to what I'm imagining.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 18 December 2017 16:32 (six years ago) link
I find this band fascinating for some reason. They're a little less refined than their peers, their hooks don't always work, and there's a couple duds on every album, but I find myself wearing out each of their albums when I'm in the my Microdisney mood.. I've noticed they have their share of diehard fans who truly believe they were that one in a million band, too. Sure, every band has them, but I've noticed they have a particularly devoted fanbase.
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 19 December 2017 16:19 (six years ago) link
There was a weird song in English about the national anthem
Bit late to reply to this now but "National Anthem" was an early Microdisney track from when they were a five piece post-punk act based in Cork, and called Micro Disney. Funny that these reunion gigs should come up because I'd been reliving my indie kid youth and listening to a lot of Microdisney and Go-Betweens, who were probably my favourite bands of that period but I hadn't listened to either in centuries. I must admit I ended up listening to Microdisney a lot more than the Go-Betweens, for reasons that I should probably post on a Go-Betweens thread. Anyway, yes, a flawed band, all of their albums are compromised by poor choices over production and arrangements - the Peel session versions are pretty much always superior (but then I think the same is true of the Fall). They were brilliant live, as were the Go-Betweens, again probably better than their recordings.
― Whiney Houston (Tom D.), Tuesday, 19 December 2017 17:28 (six years ago) link
Cathal and Sean performing 'Dolly' in the Barbican Exhibition Halls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnudQE0Oi4Q
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Friday, 11 May 2018 18:48 (six years ago) link
That's really...pleasant. I like it!
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 11 May 2018 19:04 (six years ago) link
I wouldn't put it past them to show up the night of their reunion show in that format. I'd love it, but would all their loyal fans love it?
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 14:14 (six years ago) link
Good reports from the NCH show last night. Anyone going to the Barbican next Saturday?
https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/culture/review-triumphant-return-for-microdisney-in-dublin-846709.html
― Brainless Addlepated Timid Muddleheaded Awful No-Account (Pheeel), Sunday, 3 June 2018 16:40 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG2Nsw5OWIY
― Brainless Addlepated Timid Muddleheaded Awful No-Account (Pheeel), Sunday, 3 June 2018 19:40 (six years ago) link
I'll be there.
― Poisoned by Johan's pea soup. (Tom D.), Sunday, 3 June 2018 19:42 (six years ago) link
I was at the gig last night too. It was excellent. Cathal's voice is in fine fettle. They played the album and then followed it up with the "hits" (and oddball instrumental "Michael Murphy")
― Dark Mavis (Michael B), Sunday, 3 June 2018 22:15 (six years ago) link
I've heard nothing but good things. Chances of a new album?
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 June 2018 13:49 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKkmNAzgSR0
Man, Cathal's voice hasn't aged at all.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 June 2018 14:07 (six years ago) link
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 June 2018 13:49
I've heard O'Hagan and Coughlan are writing some new stuff but it wont be under the Microdisney moniker
― Dark Mavis (Michael B), Monday, 4 June 2018 14:55 (six years ago) link
That's really exciting.
Obviously I love Sean, but it'll be nice to hear him finally write some more traditional music...if that's what they're doing.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 June 2018 15:04 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0jgf1yNirM
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 5 June 2018 13:42 (six years ago) link
Saw them a lot in the 80s, they were friends of friends. Cathal was hilarious. "This song is about authority... cos all the bands hate authority..."
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Tuesday, 5 June 2018 23:13 (six years ago) link
https://www.facebook.com/nationalconcerthall/posts/10156168180795907
Looks like some great footage exists.
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 6 June 2018 18:40 (six years ago) link
I thought they were great on Saturday night. A friend who was at Dublin and London reported that they did the same songs (but in a different order) at both shows. He thought the sound was slightly better in London.
Sorry I missed you, Tom.
― Tim, Monday, 11 June 2018 10:33 (five years ago) link
Yes, great, Cathal's voice was incredible as was his whole stage presence. In between fiddling about with the sound, Sean's guitar playing was as 'tasty' as ever, if I can be allowed to lapse into NME speak ca.1974. Sean's tribute to Cathal at the end was so heartfelt and touching, I get the feeling he really meant it when he said he would never have had a career in music if he hadn't met him.
― We can be herpes (Tom D.), Monday, 11 June 2018 12:13 (five years ago) link
After some 30 years the band reconvened to perform their seminal album, The Clock Comes Down the Stairs at the National Concert Hall and The Barbican in 2018. Having enjoyed that experience, the band will play a fully standing show at Vicar Street.
Cathal: “We were genuinely moved by the response to the 2018 shows, and we feel it’s right to play once more, to a standing audience at Vicar St, and to offer a fresh slant on the Microdisney songbook.”
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 21 August 2018 20:06 (five years ago) link
How I fell in love with Microdisney
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Monday, 4 February 2019 09:08 (five years ago) link
Goodbye, and goodbye...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhu9x3fD04Qhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad8xLVIlZmw
― Brainless Addlepated Timid Muddleheaded Awful No-Account (Pheeel), Saturday, 23 February 2019 10:39 (five years ago) link
Candy Clock by Sean O'Hagan https://t.co/VlbJeEyROa #NowPlayingFeaturing Cathal Coughlan.— High Llamas (@High_Llamas) September 19, 2019
― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 19 September 2019 16:07 (four years ago) link
Cathal sings on two other tracks as well.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 23 September 2019 16:02 (four years ago) link
Listening to them a bit again recently, Sean O'Hagan is such a great guitarist, not a wasted note to be found anywhere.
― Let them eat Pfifferlinge an Schneckensauce (Tom D.), Monday, 7 October 2019 15:01 (four years ago) link
Absolutely.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 14 October 2019 18:28 (four years ago) link
https://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/microdisney-2019-02-19-cork-ireland-aud-flac-remastered-691157.html
Full set from Cork for download at the link:
Track List:1 - Intro2 - Mrs Simpson3 - Horse Overboard4 - Our Children5 - Birthday Girl6 - Past7 - Are You Happy8 - Genius9 - Begging Bowl10 - A Friend With A Big Mouth11 - And12 - Rack13 - Everybody Is Dead14 - Pink-Skinned Man15 - Sun16 - 46417 - Loftholdingwood18 - Gale Force Wind19 - Band Intros20 - United Colours21 - Singer's Hampstead Home22 - Town To Town23 - High And Dry24 - The Night
1 - Intro2 - Mrs Simpson3 - Horse Overboard4 - Our Children5 - Birthday Girl6 - Past7 - Are You Happy8 - Genius9 - Begging Bowl10 - A Friend With A Big Mouth11 - And12 - Rack13 - Everybody Is Dead14 - Pink-Skinned Man15 - Sun16 - 46417 - Loftholdingwood18 - Gale Force Wind19 - Band Intros20 - United Colours21 - Singer's Hampstead Home22 - Town To Town23 - High And Dry24 - The Night
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 15 October 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
Just got this Coughlan/O'Hagan website off the ground, will be growing it over the coming months:
https://coughlanohagan.com/
― weirwrite, Thursday, 5 March 2020 15:26 (four years ago) link
This is a fair revival.
Now, stop.
― Mark G, Saturday, 23 May 2020 08:26 (four years ago) link
I've been obsessively listening to Microdisney's Love Your Enemies since Cathal's last LP came out a couple weeks ago. Golly, I think it should be elevated to classic album status and canonized immediately. It's a truly original little compilation/EP/hybrid, whatever. You get bits of Felt/Durutti Column, OMD, Steely Dan, Black Flag in one album. I want so badly for it to get its due, as well as the band itself.
― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 8 April 2021 17:59 (three years ago) link
IdiotsFucking ugly foolsFucking idiotsFucking idiotsFucking all my friends…
Is there a more cathartic verse in pop music?
― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 8 April 2021 18:01 (three years ago) link
LOL read that as "Is there a more Catholic verse in pop music?", which I think Cathal and Sean would appreciate. It is of course a hybrid: Cathaltic.
― Duncan Disorderly (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 April 2021 18:28 (three years ago) link
I thought this said Wednesday: C/D? Wednesday is classic. I have no thoughts on Microdisney
― John Cooper of Christian rock band Skillet (map), Thursday, 8 April 2021 18:32 (three years ago) link
Really? Other than having a cool nickname (Humpday) what the hell does Wednesday have going for it? I can't think as single good song written about Wednesday. Wednesday is pretty much yesterday's news afaiak.
― henry s, Thursday, 8 April 2021 19:25 (three years ago) link
Umm, hmm, I'm sure there's a nice Wednesday Adams instrumental on the Addams Family Values OST.
― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 8 April 2021 19:30 (three years ago) link
Wednesday Week, the undertones.
― koogs, Thursday, 8 April 2021 19:35 (three years ago) link
(xp) Uh excuse me, only another Irish band that's all ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FswDoZKFXVc
― Duncan Disorderly (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 April 2021 19:37 (three years ago) link
(xp) Beat me by a millisecond there.
― Duncan Disorderly (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 April 2021 19:38 (three years ago) link
BREAKING: The death has been announced of Cathal Coughlan, the Cork music legend who fronted such acts as Microdisney and Fatima Mansions... more to follow pic.twitter.com/ktq2Udl36x— Irish Examiner Arts & Culture (@IEArtsCulture) May 23, 2022
― gyac, Monday, 23 May 2022 14:05 (two years ago) link