Person to Person: 'It was great to appreciate the hectic life of a touring band'

Tell us about yourself;

We are a band from Cork that make expansive, folk-inspired music mixed with synths and drones. We have been together as a band for over 25 years now and release music through a UK label called Gare du Nord Records. We have a new album called Signal:Lost coming out in September and a single called The Following On. currently on release.

Where were you born?

Three-quarters of us are from Cork with one outlier all the way from Monaghan!

Where do you live?

Cork city, Glounthaune, and one of us is out at the Old Head of Kinsale!

Family?

Within the band a total of eight children of all ages.

Best friend?

As a band, we’ve been fortunate to consistently work with some great people over the years including American producer Daniel Presley who recorded three of our albums, producer James Darkin who recorded us more recently, as well as some great musicians including singer Hilary Bow, cellist Louise O’Flynn, violinist Marja Gaynor and composer /multi-instrumentalist Justin Grounds.

Earliest childhood memory? Probably hearing my dad play the piano.

Person you most admire? As a musician and individual, probably Brian Eno.

Person who most irritates you?

As a band with the same line-up for over 25 years, I could say ‘each other’! (But I won’t say that!).

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Collectively, we’d have to say our tour of the UK including Scotland at the time of our first album. It was great to appreciate the hectic life of a touring band, though a week was certainly enough. In some ways we’re lucky not to have to constantly tour and we can just enjoy the studio work and local gigs.

Favourite TV programme? Probably NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, consistently great.

Favourite radio show? There are some great shows on Irish and UK radio which have been very good to us over the years. In particular, we enjoyed re-working a song from the last album (a track called A Cloud Of Stars) with Justin Grounds for a special-edition show to mark 25 years of Cian O’Ciobhain’s An Taobh Tuathail on Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Your signature dish if cooking? Probably the band’s famous tomato and basil pasta dish.

Favourite restaurant? We have fond memories from way back in the early 2000s, of having brunch every day in a great place called Café Irie whilst recording our first two albums in studios around Temple Bar. Favourite Cork restaurant at the moment might be The Glass Curtain - a sunny day on MacCurtain Street suits just fine.

Last book you read?

Yukio Mishima’s book of short stories Death In Midsummer.

Best book you read?

Within the band probably Ocean Of Sound by David Toop, an exploration of how 20th century music evolved from Claude Debussy to ambient and experimental jazz. Along with the associated CD and various playlists, it’s a great introduction to modern experimental music. Though it will cost you a fortune in subsequent record purchases.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

I was happy to find Don Cherry’s record store day release Blue Lake in a Cork record store recently. We are very lucky to have such great record shops in Cork – though at some point I might need a bigger living room.

Favourite song?

Almost impossible to answer. At the moment, maybe Inside Looking Out by Mark Hollis.

One person you would like to see in concert? Probably Tom Waits, I wish I’d gone to see him in Dublin when he played in the Phoenix Park years ago.

Do you have a pet? Across the band, two dogs and a cat!

Morning person or night owl? All night owls.

Your proudest moment?

Our most memorable and proudest moment was a show we did at the National Sculpture Factory in 2023. The production was set up by artist Dobz O’Brien with producer/director Peter Power transforming the factory floor into an audio-visual experience in-the-round. Sound projection (by Eoin Hayes) was from speakers outside the audience pointing inwards and the lighting (by Hanan Sheedy) represented the natural flow of the evening from a gradual sunset to the onset of street lighting. The sort of visually immersive event that a band doesn’t get to do often!

Spendthrift or saver? Anyone who makes and sells their own music these days is a spendthrift. We enjoy it, and it’s very rewarding and creative, but thankfully, we split all financial losses four ways.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Cork is a vibrant city and a great place to live and work. Like any city, it benefits from people living in the centre. Ensuring this happens, through reducing dereliction and with proper planning, is essential to the future of the city centre. It has to be done properly and with vision – as a footnote… I miss the Sextant bar!

What makes you happy?

A lot of what we described above. Making music with friends.

How would you like to be remembered? As a band that makes meaningful music that connects with people and changes subtly with each album project.

What else are you up to at the moment? We have just recorded two albums from sessions in Hellfire studios in Dublin. They are companion albums with the first (called Signal:Lost) to be released on September 18 and the second (called The Following On) for release in February, 2027. Matching cover art and musical themes – why not collect the set!

Both will be out on vinyl and CD via UK label Gare du Nord Records.

Shows to follow the release are planned for Prims Bar in Kinsale, Coughlans in Cork, and Curveball Dublin.