Power Of Dreams

From Clondalkin, Power Of Dreams are Craig Walker (guitar & vocals), brother Keith Walker (drums) and Michael Lennox (bass). They recorded a Fanning session in April 1989 and in July 1989 they recorded an EP for Setanta Records produced by Sean O’Neill (ex Undertones and That Petrol Emotion). Here’s what Craig Walker said in an April state.ie interview:

“Our first demo was produced by a guy called Stano who was around at the same time as the Virgin Prunes and ended up working with Colm from My Bloody Valentine. He sent it over to Keith Cullen because he knew he’d just started Setanta Records by putting out an Into Paradise single, another Dublin band. He came to a show, said he wanted to put a record out and invited us over to London.”

“We didn’t really think much of it but we went over and he put is in a studio in Elephant & Castle. We’d never really been to London before and ended up staying in Keith’s squat. The whole experience was fantastic. We recorded the single, went away and didn’t expect anything more. Then I got a call from Keith that we were single of the week in Music Week and Melody Maker. It all went crazy then.”

Following a bidding war they signed to Polydor. Cypress Mine guitarist Ian Olney joined in June 1990, just before the release of debut LP ‘Immigrants, Emigrants And Me’ (most recently seen with the reformed Sultans Of Ping F.C.). 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of that album and to mark the occasion, the band have reformed for a series of live shows in Spirit Store, Dundalk (March 10); Whelan’s, Dublin (12); and Pavilion, Cork (13). A 2CD limited edition of the album, containing all 14 original tracks plus the debut “A Little Piece of God” ep and various b-sides, will be released on 1st March 2010.

Craig Walker has just released his debut solo album ‘Siamese’ and he recently recorded a session for Dan Hegarty on 2fm.

A Little Piece Of God (1989)

The Slowest Clock (Fear In Me)

Did I mention that I liked The Slowest Clock? I’m actually going to break the major premise of this blog on their behalf because this wasn’t actually recorded off the Fanning show. It was recorded from the radio but that’s all I know, I don’t have a clue who the DJ is or even what station it was but it features some band members attempting to introduce ‘Fear In Me’. I suspect this coincided with the release of their ‘2-car garage’ EP in September 1989 on Bewildered Records.

Fear In Me (1989)

Operating Theatre

Operating Theatre was originally formed in 1981 by composer Roger Doyle and performer Olwen Fouere. It operated as both a theatre company, integrating music as an equal partner in the theatrical environment, and as a band releasing records. Roles were flexible within the company in that Fouere also sang and Doyle also acted.

‘Queen Of No Heart’ and ‘Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth’ were the result of an initial collaboration between singer/lyricist Elena Lopez and Roger Doyle and were released by Mother Records, the label set up by U2, as a single by Operating Theatre in 1986, with Lopez on main vocals and drummer Sean Devitt joining the band for this recording.

Roger Doyle has been called ‘the Godfather of Irish electronic music’ by Hot Press and is active as a composer most recently winning the Magisterium Prize at the Bourges International Electro-acoustic music competition in France. He also composed the score for the Bob Quinn movie Budawanny (1987) which starring Donal McCann. Roger’s website contains a welath of material and is well worth checking out.

A double CD to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Operating Theatre was released is available.

Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth (1986)

Rusty Old Halo

Rusty Old Halo were Mick Hanly (vocals, guitar), Pat Carey (bass), Davy Whyte (drums), Peter Condell (guitar), Paul Kelly (fiddle), Bill Whelan (piano) and Keith Donald (saxophone). Originally from Limerick Mick Hanly was a singer-songwriter before starting a 14 month stint with Moving Hearts in 1982 where he filled the shoes of none other than Christy Moore. Following his departure from Moving Hearts Mick formed Rusty Old Halo and they released the album ‘Still Not Cured‘ on W.E.A. in 1987. Hanly saw increased success in 1989 when Mary Black recorded ‘Past the Point of Rescue’ for her best selling ‘No Frontiers’ album. The song saw even greater success in the U.S. when recorded by country singer Hal Ketchum shortly afterwards. Mick has just released ‘Collected’and has recently performed a number of gigs with Arty McGlynn to promote that release.

Back Again (1987)