Cathal Coughlan
Encyclopedia
Cathal Coughlan is an Irish
singer songwriter, formerly of Microdisney
, and The Fatima Mansions. His work with both bands has received much critical acclaim, as has his solo material.
His lyrics focus on politics, the seamy side of relationships and the interplay between the two, utilising surreal imagery and literary and historical references. He also sets his songs against varied musical styles, encompassing everything from neo-classical
to techno and eschewing any clear or confining identity. His work can be tough and uncompromising, but full of melody, invention, strange key-changes and a delight in playing with the traditional structures of the pop song. He has recorded with comedian Sean Hughes
as "Bubonique" releasing a number of CDs parodying current musical trends including "20 Golden Showers" and "Trance Arse Volume 3".
His voice has prompted comparisons with Scott Walker
, whom Coughlan considers a major influence. As a solo musician, he has completed five albums, the most recent of which is Rancho Tetrahedron. The first album, Grand Necropolitan, is available to download for free from his website. Coughlan is based in London and has become increasingly involved in musical theatre. In 2006 he was described in The Irish Times as the 'genius of Irish rock'. He was the subject of the documentary 'The Adventures of Flannery' which had screenings in Cork, Belfast, Dublin and further afield.
In August 2010, Coughlan released the album Rancho Tetrahedron, credited to "Cathal Coughlan and the Grand Necropolitan Quartet". The Irish Times noted that "Coughlan's mixture of acerbity and dark lyricism is sustained on his fifth solo album, that there is a subtle Latin influence on the music, and Coughlan's Scott Walker inflected voice has never sounded better." Earlier in the year Coughlan had also duetted with Dave Couse
on the song "Good Friday" from Couse's Alonewalk
, a union notable, some would say, for involving Ireland's two most mordant song writers.
In 2011, Coughlan began a collaboration with the British singer-songwriter Luke Haines
and the writer Andrew Mueller
, resulting in the live song/speech show The North Sea Scrolls, for a premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2011.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
singer songwriter, formerly of Microdisney
Microdisney
Microdisney was an Irish musical duo, formed in 1980 by Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan .-Original line-up:*Vocals: Cathal Coughlan*Guitar: Sean O'Hagan*Keyboards: Nick Montgomery*Bass: Jon Fell...
, and The Fatima Mansions. His work with both bands has received much critical acclaim, as has his solo material.
His lyrics focus on politics, the seamy side of relationships and the interplay between the two, utilising surreal imagery and literary and historical references. He also sets his songs against varied musical styles, encompassing everything from neo-classical
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
to techno and eschewing any clear or confining identity. His work can be tough and uncompromising, but full of melody, invention, strange key-changes and a delight in playing with the traditional structures of the pop song. He has recorded with comedian Sean Hughes
Sean Hughes (comedian)
Sean Hughes is a British-Irish stand-up comedian, writer and actor.-Career:Hughes was born in London, but spent most of his youth in Firhouse, Dublin...
as "Bubonique" releasing a number of CDs parodying current musical trends including "20 Golden Showers" and "Trance Arse Volume 3".
His voice has prompted comparisons with Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
, whom Coughlan considers a major influence. As a solo musician, he has completed five albums, the most recent of which is Rancho Tetrahedron. The first album, Grand Necropolitan, is available to download for free from his website. Coughlan is based in London and has become increasingly involved in musical theatre. In 2006 he was described in The Irish Times as the 'genius of Irish rock'. He was the subject of the documentary 'The Adventures of Flannery' which had screenings in Cork, Belfast, Dublin and further afield.
In August 2010, Coughlan released the album Rancho Tetrahedron, credited to "Cathal Coughlan and the Grand Necropolitan Quartet". The Irish Times noted that "Coughlan's mixture of acerbity and dark lyricism is sustained on his fifth solo album, that there is a subtle Latin influence on the music, and Coughlan's Scott Walker inflected voice has never sounded better." Earlier in the year Coughlan had also duetted with Dave Couse
Dave Couse
Dave Couse is a musician, producer, and radio DJ. He was the lead singer and main song writer with Irish band A House and has released three albums as a solo artist...
on the song "Good Friday" from Couse's Alonewalk
Alonewalk
Alonewalk is the third album released by Dave Couse since the breakup of A House, his second on 1969 Records. It was mastered by Bob Ludwig and features a duet with Cathal Coughlan on the song "Good Friday". The album was released on Good Friday in 2010...
, a union notable, some would say, for involving Ireland's two most mordant song writers.
In 2011, Coughlan began a collaboration with the British singer-songwriter Luke Haines
Luke Haines
Luke Haines is an English musician, songwriter and author, who has recorded music under various names and with various bands, including The Auteurs, Baader Meinhof and Black Box Recorder.-'New Wave':...
and the writer Andrew Mueller
Andrew Mueller
Andrew Mueller is an Australian-born, London-based journalist and author. He is a contributing editor at Monocle, and also regularly writes for The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, The Financial Times, Esquire, The Guardian, Arena, The Times, Uncut, High Life, Harper's Bazaar, New Humanist,...
, resulting in the live song/speech show The North Sea Scrolls, for a premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2011.
Microdisney
- Everybody Is Fantastic - 1984
- We Hate You South African Bastards!We Hate You South African Bastards!We Hate You South African Bastards! was the second album from 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 Microsdisney before they moved from Cork to London...
- 1984 - The Clock Comes Down the Stairs - 1985
- Crooked Mile - 1986
- 39 Minutes - 1988
- Peel Sessions - 1990
- Big Sleeping House - 1990
- From Daunt Square to Elsewhere - 2007
Fatima Mansions
- Against NatureAgainst Nature (album)Against Nature was the debut album from Fatima Mansions, and is generally more melodic and accessible than their later work. It was released in September 1989, receiving almost universal critical acclaim, described by NME as "staggering in its weight of ideas...never loses its capacity to suddenly...
- 1989 - Viva Dead PoniesViva Dead PoniesViva Dead Ponies was 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 noiser, guitar-oriented style that would become more prominent in their later works Viva Dead Ponies...
- 1990 - Bertie's BrochuresBertie's BrochuresRecorded and released between Viva Dead Ponies and Valhalla Avenue, the Bertie's Brochures mini-album found The Fatima Mansions displaying their more subtle side, with the record being dominated with slower, piano-led ballads such as the title track and their cover of Scott Walker's "Long About...
- mini-album - 1991 - Come Back My ChildrenCome Back My ChildrenCome Back My Children is a compilation album by Fatima Mansions consisting of all eight tracks from Against Nature, along with other early singles and B-sides and covers of "Stigmata" by Ministry and "Lady Godiva's Operation" by The Velvet Underground...
- Compilation - 1992 - Valhalla AvenueValhalla AvenueValhalla Avenue was the fourth album release of Irish alternative rock act The Fatima Mansions. Released in 1992 by Kitchenware Records, the album included the singles Evil Man and 1000%...
- 1992 - Tima Mansio Dumps the Dead - Compilation - 1992
- Lost in the Former WestLost in the Former WestLost in the Former West was the final album released by The Fatima Mansions, continuing the focus on hard-rock anthems that had begun on Valhalla Avenue...
- 1994 - Viva Dead Ponies/Nice Vines - 2007
Solo
- Im' long Me Measaim (Split flexi-disc/CAFF1) - 1989
- Grand Necropolitan - 1996
- Black River FallsBlack River Falls (album)Black River Falls was the second album from Cathal Coughlan. It was released in October 2000 on Cooking Vinyl Records COOKCD 126.- Track listing :# "The Ghost Of Limehouse Cut" # "Officer Material" # "The Bacon Singer"...
- 2000 - The Sky's Awful Blue - 2002
- Foburg - 2006
- Rancho Tetrahedron - 2010 [#12 IRE Indie]
Soundtrack
- The Last Bus Home 1990 - Johnny Gogan
- The Bargain Shop 1992 - Johnny Gogan
- Mapmaker 2001 - Johnny Gogan