The last few years have seen me spend St Patrick’s Day afternoon at my friend Sue’s house watching England play Ireland in the Six Nations rugby championship. Her extended Irish family are always there as well as other local friends. It’s not traditionally Irish in any way; Guinness is substituted with Prosecco, Mojitos or Espresso Martinis served with tartiflette, an unctious French potato bake. It’s a beautifully warm, friendly, gorgeous time spent with people I love being around. Today will see a repeat of this gathering.
The Welsh Beauties post seemed to go down ok the other week (although, tbh, I’ve had no feedback from the person I originally made the little list for, so, meh to that) hence I’ve decided to do one for St Patrick’s Day, for Sue.
There are some heavyweight acts and artist hailing from the Emerald isle, here though I’m focussing on acts that aren’t of the world and chart dominating variety. I’d like to hear your suggestions too. Here goes:
Fionn Regan – The Meeting of the Waters
Originally from the coastal town of Bray, Fionn Regan has been around a while and I think there are some fans of his here. There’s a gentle, confessional feel to his music and I’m struck by the similarities with Sufjan Stevens, especially Regan’s earlier work. The 2007 album, The End of History, has a sense of Carrie and Lowell about it.
This track, The Meeting of the Waters, is from his 2017 album of the same name (video features the ever gorgeous Cillian Murphy), also check out the very beautiful Cormorant Bird.
Ships – Where We Are
This Dublin based duo won the Irish Choice music prize for their album Precession last year. Their music is synth led and rhythmically dreamy. This track is also beautifully heavy on the bass and features some lovely vocal harmonies. There’s a bit of a Jan Hammer feel about the whole thing – it makes me want to dig out some shoulder pads.
Pillow Queens – Favourite
I’ve literally stumbled upon Pillow Queens in the last 2 weeks. They fit in quite nicely with my current infatuation with all things girls and guitars. Their latest EP, State of the State, came out only yesterday and it’s a cracking listen. I love the riff in this track, the vocal overlay and harmonies makes it such an earworm. And I just love the fact that I can hear their accents in the vocals (check out their track Rats for more of that). So, my mission now is to persuade the aforementioned Sue to come with me to see them in April at our local sweat box.
Hozier – Take Me to the Church
I’ve chosen this one because when it came out my ballet-loving daughter was obsessed with the video featuring Sergei Polunin – this isn’t the official video for this song btw. We watched it together over and over. The grace, power and beauty of the movements is mesmerising and inspired her to make up her own moves (in fact she’s out in the garden right now, behind me as I type, dancing her own steps). The song itself is also full of emotion – the visuals and the music make for a powerful combo.
Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know
My almost 15 year old son pays no attention to the music I try to introduce him to – turning away with disdain in most cases. Not so when his girlfriend suggests something he’s never come across – oh no, then it’s the best thing he’s ever heard. That’s how we came to have the whole “Have you heard of Two Door Cinema Club, Mum?” conversation. This track is not at all the sort of thing he listens to usually (he’s into rap, hip hop, trap, grime etc), but this song has ended up on constant repeat, blaring from his bedroom or from the stereo in the kitchen when he’s on washing up duty. And that is cool by me – it’s infectious, harmless and the lyrics aren’t nearly as vile as some of the stuff he listens to. These boys are from Northern Ireland, so I’m not sure how that fits with the St Patrick’s Day thing; here’s hoping I’ve not offended anyone.
Let me hear your suggestions for music from the Emerald Isle. Also, let me know if you think this could be a regular feature and perhaps I’ll start gathering info about national days etc.
Sláinte!
The 'Spill 
I think that I am going to have to go with this track.
It is from one of my favourite Van Morrison collaborations, the album he recorded with The Chieftains, Irish Heartbeat.
As for the rugby, I really do not want to see an Irish grand slam at Twickenham and I am hoping for an English recovery from the dreadful performances in the last two games.
I did a St. Pat’s playlist many years ago.
What i’d have to add now for an update is something by The Gloaming. If anyone is unfamiliar, Opening Set is a pretty good place to start. And if you like what you hear, both albums to date are just exquisite.
There’s a third live album now. Mine arrived in the post last week.
oooh oooh, thanks!
That’s a brilliant piece of music, I think toffeeboy had it as one of his festive three at some point. Wonderful stuff.
I know it was one of Magic’s, that’s where I first heard it too.
This girlfriend loved the idea of Ireland she had in her head.
The reality of Dublin in 1998 disappointed her. It was any other city. We went to museums and I was raving about The Book of Kells and the intricacy of the metalwork in the jewellery I saw. She ticked those items off her bucket list and told me to hurry up. But I bet she’s got some pseudo-Celtic tribal art on her lower back these days.
I took some serious abuse throughout England vs. Argentina (World Cup football). Nowhere else have I ever felt somebody wanted to beat me to a pulp for supporting my team. But I was self-depreciating, fair in my comments and not my-country-right-or-wrong regarding the politics thrown my way. I saw Batty walking up to take his penalty and said to fair-minded bloke next to me. “He’ll miss it.” The IRA psycho wannabe was screaming with joy in my face when Batty duffed it. “Great match!” I said. Fair-minded bloke praised my dignity. I scarpered when the psycho headed to the toilets, I didn’t look back at his mates.
She loved Newgrange. “Can’t you tell it’s been done up for know-nothing tourists?” I sneered. We were probably doomed from that point on. I loved the place all the same.
I loved Belfast even more though. Great people. A strange thing to say because we walked into Orange Order riots and flaming cars, and also through a bomb-fearing, deserted city in early.evening. That was; eeriest experience ever – the centre of a modern city silent, soundless; honestly, it was unnatural. The police told us to fuck off to our hotel because we were endangering others. “What others?” girlfriend said. She was indignant that the police were saying what I had told her. But even the coppers were friendly and welcoming in how they spoke to us, we weren’t another set of tourists like we were in Dublin.
Girlfriend loved Belfast too. She got a tour of the Protestant murals because she was from “Santa Claus land” and the youngest of the hoodlums loved that. Enabled gf to take some remarkable photos. The taxi driver told me to stay behind: “You English aren’t liked by either extremist side at the moment”. He was right.
When I explained about the fact that those kids took her to see art that glorified one group oppressing others – a complete turnabout of her politics, she shrugged it off. Never underestimate the power of the personal touch in PR for winning hearts and minds,
Anyway, I loved Belfast and it’s people, so here is Bicep for surreal Belfast:
And the sidebar suggests: .
which is the first thing yt have got right in ages
Thanks Fuel. You are always so generous with your comments. I love your little anecdotes.
Bicep featured in my 2017 instrumental playlist I posted at the end of the year – fierce; weirdly creepy video. I really like the stuff I’ve heard by Le Boom; they were narrowly bumped out of this feature because I was trying to personalise it a tad.
Fuel: A lovely post.
Thanks.
Blown away by Fuel’s writing. I went to southern Ireland years ago – a beautiful, laid back place it seemed then. Always meant to go back, perhaps I will. So much music – I love Hozier’s ‘Take me to church” – I’m even coming round to Van Morrison. A bit. Then there’s Feargal Sharkey and Rory Gallagher and Davy Spillane and Planxty and the Chieftains and … I’ll go for Tir Na Nog, and “Two White Horses”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNNdbJP2F4
I thought you might suggest Clannad!
I said ‘I’ll drink to that’, the theme from Harry’s game has been a lifelong favorite but I immediately saw another favorite which I chose instead. I remember when many years ago I discovered both of these on the same day, I was in a large record store at the bottom of Regent St at Picadilly and I found two LP’s that I bought on the basis of the albim covers and they were both winners.
I just came across them recently GF and then too thanks to Ali.
Another group is. Afro Celt Sound System again a discovery via Spill.
The vocalist in The Gloating sings with them.
*Gloaming. Autospell sucks.
Ravi: Right after I discovered Clannad I became aware that they were basically a family based group, the majority of the band all shared the name ‘Brennan’, and that’s my name also. They came from Sligo which is where my forebears are from so I’ve often wondered if there’s a connection, I’d love it if there were.
Part 2. Quite a few years ago I was visiting my mother in Norfolk and one day a friend of hers came by. I was introduced as the ‘American son who has a radio show’. The friend became very interested and told me that her son had just formed a band and maybe I could talk with him and give him some advice! I don’t recall how I responded but I got a letter some time later saying that the band were releasing their first album, and by the way they’re called “The Afro-Celt Sound System”. So happy to have almost set them on the straight and narrow!
Thanks. Sometimes I’m inspired.
ohh – I couldn’t resist – quick playlist:
(band name first)
September Girls – Veneer
Ronan O Snodaigh – Water off a Ducks Back
Alphastates – Human Nature
Kormac – Kormac’s House
Autamata – Jellyman
The Japanese Popstars – Take Forever Ft. Robert Smith
A lively little playlist , starting off with my most recent discovery from the Emerald Isle
The Gakk – Section 24
Paranoid Visions – City Of Screams
Skint – In The Firing Line
The Steam Pig – In A Confession Box (No One Can Hear You Scream)
Striknien DC – Two Years (Spineless)
Stress – Cure The Disease , Kill The Patient
Grit – Stray Bullet
The Jollars – We’re Not Leaving
Paranoid Visions – Mutant Circus
Virgin Prunes – Caucasian Walk
Dogshit Sandwich – R U Making The Tea*
*Actually from the West Midlands, but main man Rich Lard who came up with this classic is Irish born and bred so they sneak in
Oldie featuring a brilliant bass break from Kev Hopper
Stump – Tupperware Stripper
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