The Witching Hours Session – 22/09/2017

Microdisney

Formed in Cork in 1980, Microdisney were built around the songwriting partnership of Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan.

An early formation of the band released their recordings on the brilliantly titled ‘We Hate You South African Bastards’ in 1984, this was released post-apartheid as ‘Love Your Enemies’

By this time the band had re-located to London and cut a record deal with Rough Trade. The same year (1984) they released the band’s ‘proper’ debut, the finely crafted pop album ‘Everybody Is Fantastic’. A follow up Rough Trade LP ‘The Clock Comes Down The Stairs’ was released the following year and the band’s growing reputation was secured with a big league deal with Virgin Records and their label debut album ‘Crooked Mile’. It looked at this stage that the band might go mainstream hover album sales remained disappointing.

A final and disappointing album ’39 Minutes’ was released in 1988. The band split the same year with Coughlan going on to form Fatima Mansions and O’Hagan forming The High Llamas.

Tonight’s listening;

‘We Hate You South African Bastards’ (1984)

Microdisney – Love Your Enemies

Microdisney – Love Your Enemies, From ‘We Hate You South African Bastards”

‘The Clock Comes Down The Stairs’ (1985)

Microdisney – Horse Overboard (1985)

From the album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs

‘Crooked Mile’ (1987).

Microdisney – And He Descended Into Hell (1987)

A standout track from the album ‘Crooked Mile’

Albums

Kaught At Kampus (vinyl 1980) Reekus (reissued on CD 2013)
Everybody Is Fantastic (1984) Rough Trade (UK Indie #6)(reissued (1996) Rev-Ola, with bonus track and again in 2013 with additional Peel session and b side)
We Hate You South African Bastards! (1984) Rough Trade (UK Indie #7 reissue 2013 ibid)
The Clock Comes Down The Stairs (1985) Rough Trade (UK Indie #1 reissue 20@3 ibid)
Crooked Mile (1987) Virgin
39 Minutes (1988) Virgin
The Peel Sessions Album (1989) Strange Fruit
Big Sleeping House (1995) Virgin Vault
Love Your Enemies (1996) Rev-Ola
Daunt Square to Elsewhere: 1982-1988 (2007) Castle

Singles

“Hello Rascals” (1982) Kabuki
“Pink Skinned Man” (1983) Kabuki
“Dolly” (1984) Rough Trade
In the World EP (1985) Rough Trade (UK Indie #7)
“Birthday Girl” (1985) Rough Trade (UK Indie #6)
“Town to Town” (1987) Virgin (UK #55, IRE #30)
“Singer’s Hampstead Home” (1987) Virgin
“Gale Force Wind” (1988) Virgin (UK #98)
[2]

Songs of Note

“Pink Skinned Man” (1983) Kabuki
“Dolly” (1984) Peel Session version
Goodbye It’s 1987 The Clock comes down the Stairs LP (1985) Rough Trade (UK Indie #1)
“Rack” (1986) Crooked Mile Virgin LP & CD
“Soul Boy” (1987) Virgin LP & CD

Info from Wikipedia