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.
The Fatima Mansions were an Irish rock band formed in 1988 by Cork singer/keyboardist Cathal Coughlan, formerly of Microdisney.
Red Roses for Me is the debut studio album by the London-based band the Pogues, released on 15 October 1984. It was produced by Stan Brennan, who had managed the Nipple Erectors/The Nips and Rocks Off Records shop in London.
Bridget St John is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for the three albums she recorded between 1969 and 1972 for John Peel's Dandelion record label. Peel produced her debut album, Ask Me No Questions. She also recorded a large number of BBC Radio and Peel sessions and toured regularly on the British college and festival circuit.
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.
The Fat Lady Sings were a rock band from Dublin, Ireland, fronted by singer and songwriter Nick Kelly. Almost immediately after forming in March 1986, they relocated to London, and remained there for the rest of their career. Despite this, they gained more media attention and commercial success in their native Ireland, with a series of five top 20 singles in 1990/91, than they did in the UK.
Mellow Candle was an Irish progressive folk rock band, active from 1968 to 1973. They released one studio album, Swaddling Songs, in 1972. A collection of demos and sessions for the album, recorded 1969–1971, was released in 1996 as The Virgin Prophet.
The High Llamas are an Anglo-Irish avant-pop band formed in London circa 1991. They were founded by singer-songwriter Sean O'Hagan, formerly of Microdisney, with drummer Rob Allum and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. O'Hagan has led the group since its formation. Their music is often compared to the Beach Boys, a band he acknowledges as an influence, although more prominent influences were drawn from bossa nova and European film soundtracks.
Viva Dead Ponies is the second album by The Fatima Mansions, and features elements of both their original, more synth-led and melodic sound on songs such as "You're a Rose", as well as the noisier, guitar-oriented style that would become more prominent in their later works.
Bertie's Brochures is a mini-album released in 1991 by Irish rock band The Fatima Mansions. Recorded and released between Viva Dead Ponies and Valhalla Avenue, the mini-album found the band displaying their more subtle side, with the record being dominated by slower, piano-led ballads such as the title track and their cover of Scott Walker's "Long About Now", although their radically altered take on REM's "Shiny Happy People" and "Mario Vargas Yoni" represented the band's noisier and more scathing side too.
The Dirty 9s are a band from Dublin, Ireland, who have been writing and recording music together since 2008. They are currently recording their second album with record producer Karl Odlum, the album is due for release in early 2013.
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.
Kaught at the Kampus is a live compilation 12-inch EP conceived and organised by Irish promoter Elvera Butler, and released in 1981 on her Reekus Records label. A showcase of then emerging Cork city punk and post-punk bands, it contains tracks by Nun Attax, Mean Features, Urban Blitz and Microdisney
Song of Co-Aklan is the sixth and final solo album by the Irish singer / songwriter Cathal Coughlan. It was recorded in London just before the COVID-19 pandemic and released to critical acclaim in 2021. The album was preceded by a limited edition cover of Van Morrisson's "Come Here My Love."
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.
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
39 Minutes is the fourth and final studio album by the Irish pop group Microdisney, released in 1988. It was a commercial disappointment. The first single was "Singer's Hampstead Home", allegedly a criticism of Boy George's celebrity persona. It was followed by the release, from this album, of Microdisney's final single, "Gale Force Wind", which reached number 98 on the UK singles chart.
The Peel Sessions Album is a compilation of tracks recorded by the Irish pop group Microdisney for the Peel Sessions on radio DJ John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show. Peel championed the band describing them as "an iron fist in a velvet glove", and Microdisney recorded six sessions for his show, amounting to 24 songs, gathered from their first three studio albums and earlier self released tracks.
