On this episode I’m joined by Aindrías Ó Grúama aka “Grimmo” and Nick Allum, respectively the guitarist and drummer of The Fatima Mansions, for a deep dive into Against Nature, the band’s debut album which was originally released on Kitchenware Records in 1989. We discuss the formation of the band by Cathal Coughlan, the recording sessions for Against Nature and the singles ‘Only Losers Take the Bus’ and ‘Blues For Ceausescu’ and a whole lot more. “Against Nature is a thoroughly fine LP. To those who’ve ever doubted him or stood in his way, this is Coughlan’s savoured two finger salute. 9/10” Steve Lamacq (NME, 25 November, 1989). Episode Notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-61

On this episode I’m joined by journalist and author Patrick Freyne for a deep dive into NPB and El Diablo, his two late 90s/early 00s Dublin bands. NPB were a garage rock band and El Diablo were an alt-country band. Freyne's debut novel, Experts in a Dying Field has just been published. It tells the story of Dublin band The Heathens, the self-described 1000th best band of all time. Their tour van crashes and one of their members dies. It’s a witty novel about friendship, memory, grief and of losing your 20s in the back of van with your buddies. It’s inspired by the Dublin music scene of the early 00s and it describes a time before the Celtic Tiger, gentrification, IT hubs and out of control rents changed Dublin for ever. Episode notes: www.paulmcdermott.ie/episode-60

Music journalist and author Simon Reynolds chats about his new book Still In A Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock 1984-1994. My Bloody Valentine are the central group in the book, but in this conversation we touch on many of its themes including: MBV and Slowdive being discovered by new audiences; early REM and Cocteau Twins; A.R. Kane and “dreampop”; The Smiths; Throwing Muses; Pixies; Dinosaur Jr; slackers and dole culture in the 80s; music journalism in the 80s; Sonic Youth and Daydream Nation; the popularity of MBV today and why shoegaze has survived. Episode notes: https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/bonus-episode-10