Beautiful Noise

“Beautiful Noise is a captivating novel, funny, sparky and full of life. Set in Dublin in the 1980s, Seymour plunges into the story of Elliot, Iris, Squirrel and the gang, who decide to create a pirate station in Dublin that will not only rival the might of RTE, but surpass it.

A love letter to 1980s music and Dublin itself (the city is lavishly captured), Beautiful Noise has echoes of Roddy Doyle in its style, but ultimately signals the arrival of a fresh new voice. Six years in the writing (Seymour quit her high-powered marketing job and moved in with her mother for the duration), a film version has already been optioned by A Good Day To Die Hard director John Moore. Available in paperback for under a tenner, radio heads and Dublin denizens should rush out to buy this one: you’ll enjoy yourself immensely.”

Nadine O’Regan, Sunday Business Post, 8 February 2013

‘Beautiful Noise’ by Helen Seymour, €10.99 in your local bookshop.

Helen Seymour (On The Kiosk with Nadine O’Regan)

Andy Kershaw ‘No Off Switch’

I’ve just finished reading Andy Kershaw‘s autobigraphy ‘No Off Switch‘ and wanted to say how enjoyable it was. I first came across Andy as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 on who’s shows you never knew what to expect, he played anything and everything from African folk to US new (and old) country. I also knew his as a TV presenter on ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ which I still remember fondly watching of a New Year’s Eve. Andy introduced me to Dwight Yoakam and Lyle Lovett and that US new country segment is still etched in my mind. But Andy’s career is much longer and wide ranging than this as I was to learn when reading this book. Living in Ireland means that I was thankfully spared the media attention for which many probably think they know Andy and thankfully this book does not dwell on those times. The book does recount trips to the US to track down Ted Hawkins and other forgotten musicians, Andy’s days as Leeds Ents officer, trips as intrepid reporter to the homelands of loony dictators, the list goes on. If you enjoy a fascinating read, do yourself a favour and get this book. Then go and check out some of his shows which is what I am doing now, listening to Andy on ‘Desert Island Discs‘. Here’s a track from a band who I remember being blown away by in Limerick’s Savoy in the 80s and who I probably first heard on Andy’s show.

The Real Sounds of Africa ‘Wende Zako‘

Tony Clayton-Lea

The author of the recently published 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die Tony Clayton-Lea is doing the promotional rounds and last Saturday appeared on Dave Fanning’s afternoon show. Here’s what he and Dave had to say on the subject..

Tony Clayton Lea

101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die

Irish Times journalist Tony Clayton-Lea is set to publish a book that is sure to interest readers of this blog. Titled ‘101 Irish Records (You Must Hear Before You Die)‘ it promises to:

“document and highlight the great, the good, the forgotten, the lost and the hardly-ever-listened-to of Irish music over the past fifty years”

As details emerge we will update this post but for now we await the end of November with anticipation. The book will be published on 29th November by Liberties Press .

Tony is an alumnus of Hot Press magazine and has published 5 novels including ‘Irish Rock: Where It’s Come from – Where It’s at – Where It’s Going’ with Richie Taylor. In the 18th Dec 1986 issue of Hot Press Tony listed some of his highlights of that year:

1986 was an excellent year for Irish bands. Single released were aplenty, but the ones that took my fancy included Brush Shiels’ elegaic ‘Old Pal’, Dorian Mood’s ‘It’s A Funny Thing’, and Something Happens!’ debut EP ‘Two Chances’, which also happened to feature my favourite song released by an Irish group in 1986 ‘Shoulder High’. Something Happens! Will sin a major in 1987. Remember where you read it first).

On the live front, performances from The Golden Horde, A House, Blue In Heaven, and Something Happens! (again!) roused a weary body into something resembling motion. More reflective sets from Mary Coughlan and Flex And The Fastweather roused a weary mind into something even more urgently resembling thinking.

Read a 1981 Tony Clayton-Lea Hot Press interview with Stiff Little Fingers Jake Burns and manager Gordon Ogilvie ‘The Odd Couple‘.