Sean O'Hagan is an Irish singer and songwriter who leads the avant-pop band the High Llamas, which he founded in 1992. He is also known for being one half of the songwriting duo in Microdisney and for his work during the early 1990s with the English-French band Stereolab.
Microdisney were an Irish rock band formed in Cork in 1980. They were founded and led by songwriters Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan (guitar). Originally typeset as Micro Disney, the band had become Microdisney by the time they had relocated to London in 1983 and signed to Rough Trade Records. Between 1983 and 1986 the band recorded six Peel Sessions for BBC Radio and released their debut album for Rough Trade called Everybody Is Fantastic.
Cornershop are an English indie rock band formed in Leicester, in 1991. The group are best known for their single "Brimful of Asha" from their third album When I Was Born for the 7th Time, whose remixed version topped the UK singles chart in 1998. They were formed by Tjinder Singh, his brother Avtar Singh, David Chambers (drums), and Ben Ayres, the first three having previously been members of General Havoc, who released one single in 1991. The band name originated from a stereotype referring to British Asians often owning corner shops. Their music is a fusion of Indian music, indie rock, alternative and electronic dance music.
The Fatima Mansions were an Irish rock band formed in 1988 by Cork singer/keyboardist Cathal Coughlan, formerly of Microdisney.
Cathal Coughlan was an Irish singer and songwriter from Cork, best known as the frontman of the band Microdisney, formed with Sean O'Hagan in 1980. Their second album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs reached number one in the UK Indie Chart. They developed cult followings in the Irish and UK indie music scenes before breaking up in 1988.
We Hate You South African Bastards! is a compilation album by the Irish band Microdisney. It was re-issued on CD with the title Love Your Enemies to reflect post-Apartheid South Africa. The album consists of early recordings of Microdisney before they moved from Cork to London.
Valhalla Avenue is an album by Irish alternative rock act The Fatima Mansions. Released in 1992 by Kitchenware Records, the album included the singles "Evil Man" and "1000%". Frontman Cathal Coughlan wrote, and with the assistance of Ralph Jezzard and Victor Van Vugt, produced and engineered the album.
Miss America is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O'Hara, released in 1988 by Virgin Records.
The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse is an album by the Anglo-Dutch band the Legendary Pink Dots, released in 1990. The album is a cult fan favorite. Niels van Hoorn contributed on flute, saxophones, and clarinet.
Against Nature is the debut album by Irish rock band Fatima Mansions. It was released in September 1989, receiving almost universal critical acclaim, described by NME as "staggering in its weight of ideas...never loses its capacity to suddenly stun you", and also described as "a startlingly well-rounded debut". A review from AllMusic stated "Coughlan's lyrics are similarly aggressive throughout, with actions of overt and implicit violence in nearly every song and a grouchily misanthropic, almost nihilistic lyrical world-view throughout".
Cathal is a common given name in Ireland. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, cath, means "battle"; the second element, fal, means "rule". There is no feminine form of Cathal. The Gaelic name has several anglicised forms, such as Cathel, Cahal, Cahill and Kathel. It has also been anglicised as Charles, although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic element, karl, meaning "free man".
Minx is the fourth album by the English punk rock band Leatherface. It was released in 1993 by Roughneck Records.
The Right to Be Italian is the only studio album by the new wave band Holly and the Italians. The album had a troubled recording process that took more than a year to be completed; it was released in February 1981 by Virgin Records. The album was reissued in 2002 in the US by Wounded Bird Records with bonus tracks.
Five Go Down to the Sea? were an Irish post-punk band from Cork, active between 1978 and 1989. Vocalist and lyricist Finbarr Donnelly, guitarist Ricky Dineen and brothers Philip (bass) and Keith "Smelly" O'Connell (drums) formed the band as Nun Attax while teenagers. They became known for Donnelly's absurdist, surreal lyrics and stage presence, Dineen's angular guitar and their Captain Beefheart-style rhythm section. The group changed their name to Five Go Down to the Sea? after moving to London in 1983. Their line-up has at times included guitarists Mick Finnegan, Giordaí Ua Laoghaire, Mick Stack, and the cellist Úna Ní Chanainn.
Knot a Fish is the debut and most critically acclaimed EP by the Irish post-punk band Five Go Down to the Sea?, released in 1983 on the London-Irish label Kabuki records and distributed by Rough Trade. Recorded just after the band changed their name from Nun Attax, it is the only of their recordings to feature cellist Úna Ní Chanainn, and is widely considered their best work.
Ricky Dineen is an Irish musician best known as the guitarist with the post-punk band Five Go Down to the Sea?, earlier known as Nun Attax, who later developed into Beethoven–fucking–Beethoven. He wrote most of the band's music and developed their angular musical style, which he said was in part influenced by contemporary post-punk bands such as The Fire Engines, Gang of Four, The Mekons and Bogshed.
Hiding from the Landlord is a twenty-four track compilation album by the Irish post-punk band Five Go Down to the Sea?. It was released in April 2020 on vinyl and CD by Allchival records, an imprint of AllCity Records.
Crooked Mile is the third studio album by Irish pop band Microdisney. It was their first album for major label Virgin Records, after the release of their previous albums on Rough Trade Records. It was produced by Lenny Kaye, the former guitarist of the Patti Smith Group.
Everybody Is Fantastic is the debut album by Irish indie band Microdisney. The album was recorded by singer Cathal Coughlan and guitarist Sean O'Hagan, after they had relocated from Ireland to London. It was released in 1984, and was largely performed by Coughlan and O'Hagan with contributions from future Microdisney members John Fell and Tom Fenner, and session musicians John McKenzie and Terry Stannard.
The Clock Comes Down the Stairs is the second studio album by the Irish band Microdisney. It was recorded and released in 1985, and was their last album for Rough Trade Records before signing to Virgin Records the following year. The album was mainly recorded in the flat of producer Jamie Lane, with additional recording, including the drums tracks, completed at a professional studio in Shoreditch
