| Author | Message | ||
     Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 668 Registered: 10-2004 |
That's right, there's actually - shockingly - a new development on the Microdisney front (the first in about 15 years). Sanctuary/Castle are putting out a 2-disc career-spanning retrospective called "Daunt Square to Elsewhere, 1982-88." Unfortunately there are no newly unearthed rarities or anything for us longtime fans, but still, I'd consider purchasing this for the same reason that many of us shelled out for "Intermission." Amazon has this slated for a late September release, but I found a track-listing with cover-art here: http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/produc t.php?pType=1&pId=6694346 Of course I'm hoping that this will mean the rest of their output will be reissued, since the old Rev-Ola reissues are long out of print and difficult to obtain (as Randy will attest). This is good news though, because I've found the general neglect suffered by Microdisney to be disheartening. Plus, Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan have long been reluctant and/or disinterested in dwelling on the Microdisney years, so maybe they've had a slight change of heart. An admin on the Cathal Coughlan message board said Cathal and Sean approved the artwork and tracklisting, and "there will be further reissues on Sanctuary in early 2008." Hopefully this means Cathal and Sean are now willing to give a modicum of attention to Microdisney and see that the discography remains in print. This is long overdue and very exciting. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1740 Registered: 05-2005 |
This is great thanks Jeff. P{roblem being that Sanctuary is actually, no more. The com pany is being dissolved. As is EMI. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 672 Registered: 10-2004 |
Um, uh-oh! !! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 673 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, Amazon only lists Castle as the label; I wonder how that will be affected. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 57 Registered: 03-2007 |
Jeff, Castle are owned by Sanctuary. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1766 Registered: 05-2005 |
I thought Sanctuary were still trading, as far as I know they own Trojan Records and they are still releasing a good few reggae albums every month. Although I did find the following info after "googling" Sanctuary. "In April 2007 Billboard Magazine reported that Sanctuary Records would cease to exist as a new release label in the US that summer, though catalog, licensing, and new media operations would continue". "On June 15, 2007 Universal Records announced it had reached an agreement to buy Sanctuary Records for Ł44.5 million" | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 58 Registered: 03-2007 |
Kevin, the following appears to be a list of the labels owned by/closely connected with the Sanctuary Group. http://www.sanctuarygroup.com/index.php? l1=4&l2=0&l3=0&rt=RS | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 674 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, it'd be consistent with Microdisney's luck, or lack thereof, if Sanctuary's demise throws this comp into limbo. Hopefully it'll materialize somehow. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1341 Registered: 03-2005 |
Wow. I don't know what to say in response to this thread. EMI ist kaput? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 676 Registered: 10-2004 |
My girlfriend knows someone who works for EMI in promotion - I'll ask her to get the dirt from him. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1682 Registered: 05-2005 |
That's great news, thanks Jeff. I was listening to them the other day and thinking that if I were a millionaire I'd rerelease all their stuff! Daunt Square is in Cork city by the way. The album cover looks like a bridge in the East Wall area of Dublin, but I'm willing to be corrected on this. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 178 Registered: 05-2005 |
I thought so too, at first glance but I don't think it is. For one thing, the bus on the bridge is red! The high-rise in the background doesn't look familiar either. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1684 Registered: 05-2005 |
I thought they'd built a high rise residential tower there in recent years? | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 123 Registered: 05-2005 |
'Leftholdingswood' as on the tracklist sums it up - shit cover - not worth the minimal effort invested. If it (hopefully) sinks without trace then try The Peel Sessions. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 179 Registered: 05-2005 |
Leftholdingswood - Well spotted fsh. I'm still not convinced. Any work they've done round there, they've not had such a tall stand-alone building (I'm only working from memory though). That thing looks like it would dwarf liberty hall! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 677 Registered: 10-2004 |
I like the cover - it's a bit "Everybody's Fantastic"-ish, which was probably the intention. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 183 Registered: 05-2005 |
With you on that one, Jeff. There is a fantastic-ish feeling to the cover. Quite bleak, but it suits, I think. I don't exactly picture palm trees and sunshine, and smilie couples frolicking in the waves, listening to them... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1689 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yeah, it's a bit big alright. It does look East Wall though! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1741 Registered: 05-2005 |
A remastered box set would be nice. You know, like the Joy Division, a few cd's nice packaging, no chance of that though I guess. The market isn't there. I like what Castle do though. I first hear of them through someone I know who worked for them said they were putting out a Moncochrome Set comp many moons ago, when El Records were on the way out or had moved on and no one else was interested.. Thanks to Sancturay a group that seemed to care about the forgotton artists, there have been many re-releases, and they always seemed to support their releases, bands as diverse as I, Ludicrous, (great tname), The Fall and The Gun Club. Shame its going to dissolve. I think I'm with Pad, if I had the money i'd do a box set. At least someone should remaster and re-release. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1767 Registered: 05-2005 |
speaking of The Fall there is a 5 CD box set covering their whole career released on 10 Sept. I have all the studio albums and several comps so think I will give it a miss, BUT it does look pretty tasty and a must for anybody who wants an introduction to the Manchester madmans career. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Box-Set-197 6-2007/dp/B000SBUCE0/ref=pd_bbs_7/203-89 34248-8215139?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=118803 4589&sr=8-7 | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1344 Registered: 03-2005 |
I kind of DO picture palm trees and sunshine and smiley couples when Sean O'Hagan sets up the arrangements on some of those songs. Then Cathal starts to sing and a giant asteroid comes down and obliterates them. Actual reissues of Microdisney albums or a box set would be much appreciated since I still haven't managed to get CDs of "Fantastic," "Clock" or "Crooked Mile" (though somehow I'm thinking the last of these three will be the least interesting to me). I can't justify the Fall box. Catherine, have you had a chance to listen to 50,000 Fall Fans yet? | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 184 Registered: 05-2005 |
That description is brilliant, Randy! I've a feeling I'll have to stop myself from laughing out loud next time I listen to Microdisney - not a typical response, but I'm not easily going to get that image out of my head. I've not listened to 50,000 Fall fans yet. It's sitting in the substantial pile on my kitchen counter, silent and waiting. I'm hoping to get to it some evening this week. Sounds like that box set might be just my thing, though. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 193 Registered: 05-2005 |
Amazon.com are spying on me! I checked there earlier for something else, and y'know what their top recommendation for me was? The bloody Fall Box Set! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 691 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, the "news" page on Cathal's website has *just* been updated with info for the "Daunt Square" comp, so I think that should put to rest any skepticism or doubts over its release due to the whole Santuary buy-out. Note that it says it will be released on Sanctuary/Castle, so apparently those both still exist, but probably under a different parent company. There's also news about a documentary on Cathal and his "Flannery's Mounted Head" project (which his latest album, "Foburg," is based on) that's coming out this fall. I hope us hicks out in the US will be able to see it somehow. http://cathalcoughlan.com/news/ | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1711 Registered: 05-2005 |
There's also a Fatima Mansions retrospective listed underneath it. Nothing on that I don't have though. I remember reading an interview with Cathal a few years ago where he said he was pretty much laughed out of the office when he said he wanted Kitchenware to release a Fatima Mansions compilation; and how dispiriting that was. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 694 Registered: 10-2004 |
Padraig, the Fatima Mansions is the one area of Cathal's career that I haven't explored much. I only have "Viva Dead Ponies," and haven't heard the other albums. I like that album, but it doesn't move me nearly as much as Microdisney or his 4 solo albums. What are the other albums like? Or, how do they differ (if at all) from "Viva Dead Ponies"? Now that they're probably all hopelessly rare, I think it's time I investigate. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1772 Registered: 05-2005 |
I saw The Fatimas live once, they scared me, Cathal had now put away Steely Dan backing music and rocked a fat(ima) one now I can tell ye! His group looked more menacing thean Microdisney, they made Slipknot look and sound like The Spinners! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 698 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, I just picked up a copy of "Lost in the Former West" for $2.00 on my lunchbreak at Amoeba. I love his song titles: "Go Home Bible Mike," "Popemobile to Paraguay," etc... Hopefully I'll get a chance to listen to it later on today. Spence - Cathal can be pretty scary when he wants, which can be wildly entertaining. I've seen live Microdisney videos where he's absolutely menacing, where he makes Henry Rollins look like Tony Hadley. And of course, that was with the melodic "lite" pop of Microdisney. I'm sure the intensity was upped even more with equally menacing music backing him (although it might've been less ironic - part of what made Microdisney so unique was the sheer irony of this guy slamming the microphone into his head while playing this gorgeous, breezy pop). | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1718 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, all the Fatima Mansions albums are worth getting anywhere you can find them. There were four full albums, a couple of EPs and some singles. They are all quite different. One of the EPS - Bertie's Brochures - is piano ballads! Lost In The Former West is influenced by Scott Walker, down to the cover of Nite Flights. Valhalla Avenue maintained the rage of Viva Dead Ponies and is even heavier in that it has fewer moments of beautiful distraction. Get what you can Jeff. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1357 Registered: 03-2005 |
I have "Lost in the Former West." I hate the guitarist. Totally. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1779 Registered: 05-2005 |
Anyone remeber Micro on Going for Gold, with Town to Town. In a time when I had zero coffers and was at art college in the day 9apart from this day!) and cleaning glasses until 4am in the night! I remember Cathal doing his usual staring thing. henry kelly must've seriously shat himself, can yo uimagine being as straight as henry keyy 9esp his hair), and hearing Town before sssing the group!? Whoahhhhhhhh! Not the clip but similar http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ep1C7fuA U i really used to like the drummer, he had something about the way he played, can;t explain, it was just on the nmoney all the time. I seem to remember Lindy morrison, being interviewed for my friend Peter Paphides fanzine, called Perturbed, way back in about '87, saying she liked this drummer too. Lloyd Cole's drummer, Irwin? Similar too. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1847 Registered: 05-2005 |
Finally got my mitts on this. Its a cracker, especially the earlier stuff on disc 1. This really shits all over the Big Sleeping House comp which only covered the Virgin period. The sleevenotes are excellent, written by Andrew Mueller (ex Melody Maker, think he writes now for Mojo or Uncut), I like his description of Cathals vocal style as being "half croon,half snarl, a lugubrious Irish Scott Walker with fangs" | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1805 Registered: 05-2005 |
Glad you like it kev as i know you had doubts. Are the songs remastered?? If so I'll get it. I have everything they ever released, but would love remasters. Mueller is a good writer. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 731 Registered: 10-2004 |
Amazon has this as being available here in the US on October 8th. It's $25, though, which is a lot to spend on songs I already have. Still, I may see if I can get Amoeba to special order it and sell it for less. Either way, I'm just excited something new is happening in Microdisney-land. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1849 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, the credits on the back are so small I honestly could hardly read it(anybody who buys it will see what I mean) so I dont know for sure if its remastered, but these days its almost a given isnt it? What I did think I noticed on some tracks was a faint crackle, so Im guessing that some of it has been mastered from vinyl. If thats the case its criminal, I cant believe nobody has the master tapes for these? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 733 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin, you wouldn't believe how many reissues I have that were (at least partially) mastered from the vinyl because the masters tapes vanished: albums from the Room, Ludus, Stockholm Monsters, the Wake, Wild Swans, Felt, Artery, etc... so it's really no surprise to me if some of Microdisney's master tapes suffered the same fate. It seems somewhat common among indie bands of that era. However, the first three Microdisney albums that were reissued on CD by Rev-Ola in the early 90s were remastered (from original tapes) with improved results. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 736 Registered: 10-2004 |
Darn, it's been pushed back a week to October 15th on Amazon. I wonder what the hold-up is. I need to stop thinking about it. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1809 Registered: 05-2005 |
See, all those bands as you mention Jeff, they really didn't sell that well. So no one unless they were anal retentive about tapes, bothered wghere they were kept. I remember seeing Lawrence walking round with a tape of one of Felt's albums, and it spent the afternoon on a table in a pub in the middle of Birmingham!! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1393 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hmmm. I guess that's the downside to the "indie" thing. In the olden days, even the most obscure bands' tapes were kept in the vaults at Decca, EMI etc. The only real danger was if the place burned down, a water pipe broke or a label fell off. I always feel totally ripped off when I buy a CD and it's mastered from vinyl. In a lot of the cases I already had my own vinyl copy. I think there should be a disclosure when that occurs, like I sometimes see but not nearly enough. Jeff, you have everything. Is there a point to this release? It's always possible that Kevin's glass-shattering headphones are just picking up electronic noise from bum components. Kevin, you remember good old vinyl: the deadly telltale will be the last songs on the sides of the original records. Any of those included on this anthology? How do they sound? Clear or compressed and distorted? Especially the vocals? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 737 Registered: 10-2004 |
Spence - I know, that's partly my point. Things were so unstable for lesser known indie bands and labels of the period, especially financially, that keeping track of master tapes was probably the last thing on anyone's mind. Speaking of Felt, I remember reading an interview with Lawrence in which he said Cherry Red used to re-use their tapes! Once an album was pressed, they'd copy the master onto some lesser, cheaper format, and then erase and reuse the tapes for future projects in order to save a few pounds. Of course the copy would invariably disappear, and if you wanted to repress an album a few years down the road, you were basically screwed. Randy - quite honestly, there really isn't a point. I'm ridiculously obsessive with certain of my favorite bands, which means I must own every one of their releases - even a redundant comp like Daunt Square. Also, I'm just curious to see the whole package and to hear better quality "digital" versions of some of these songs. And lastly, comps like this are usually released to gauge interest, to see if there's enough of a market to reissue the proper albums, and that is something I really think needs to happen. I may be a vinyl-phile, but I wouldn't mind having a CD of "39 Minutes" to listen to instead of my crackly, old, vinyl copy. Plus, I remember you saying something about "Intermission," about how you would purchase it to help ensure that Robert can raise his family with dignity, and I sort of feel a similar sentiment about this with Cathal and Sean. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1813 Registered: 05-2005 |
A lot of 1/4''master tapes deteriate over time, like if you manage tofind a player that you can transfer from its highly likely the tape will come off as it makes contact with the machine heads, if you're lucky you might get it first time transfer. The 2'' master tapes were very expensive and studios used to reuse those loads. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1394 Registered: 03-2005 |
Point taken, Jeff. And thanks for the offboard tip; I'll be acting on it! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1853 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, Im at work for the next 6 hours or so but the headphones will be deployed later on tonight or tomorrow - results to follow. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 738 Registered: 10-2004 |
Randy - let me know if that doesn't work out and I'll keep my eyes peeled for copies elsewhere. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1861 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, the tracks I noticed it most on were A Few Kisses, Sun, and Everybody is Dead, all three are from Everybody is Fantastic so maybe they lost the tapes for that one. Its not particularly a crackly sound as such, its hard to explain but I think they may have used audio restoration to cancel out the crackles if you know what I mean? I think the sound is compressed, especially on some of Cathals vocals but overall I would say the sound is way more than acceptable. I didnt actually realise till I scrutinised the tracklisting that only 8 of the 28 tracks are from the Virgin period, so thats a bit of a result! In saying that, Mrs Simpson has always been one of my favourite Microdisney songs. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1757 Registered: 05-2005 |
Wasn't the version of Karen used on 1978-90 mastered from vinyl because the master had been lost? And didn't the master then turn up again for the version on The Lost Album? Or am I confused? EMI store their masters in a disused section of the London Underground. A lot of US labels store theirs in salt mines in Utah - no moisture to ruin the tapes. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 742 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin, I'm curious which cover you got, as a bit of web-surfing has revealed that there may be two different covers in circulation. Was it this one? http://www.heartbeatcity.ie/product-deta il/108069/MICRODISNEY/DAUNT+SQUARE+TO+EL SEWHERE Or this? http://cd.ciao.co.uk/Daunt_Square_To_Els ewhere_Anthology_1982_1988_Microdisney__ 6728305 | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1866 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, the heartbeatcity link is the cover I have. The sleeve notes to the album that I mentioned in a previous post on this thread are actually available online from Andrew Muellers website http://www.andrewmueller.net/display.las so?id=116 To show he is a man of impeccable taste he also did sleeve notes for a couple of Go-Betweens albums ( i had forgotten about this), there is also a link to a Go-Betweens interview http://www.andrewmueller.net/index.lasso (click on the link for Music on the left hand side) | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 743 Registered: 10-2004 |
Thanks, Kevin. I have a suspicion that there may have been a list-minute change with the cover art as the one you got looks nicer overall. I know very little about Andrew Mueller, but he does indeed seem to have impeccable taste. Thanks for the link, Kevin. His Go-Betweens interview was worth reading, too. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1891 Registered: 05-2005 |
Has this been released world wide yet, surprised nobody is talking about it? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 792 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin, it's not available at all in the US yet. A small local record shop that kind of specializes in import releases says their distributor keeps pushing back the date for when they will have it. I've got it on special order, though, so a copy will make its way to me within the next few weeks. Amazon keeps pushing back the release date too, and Amoeba, the larger record shop we West Coast folks talk about a lot, isn't even going to stock it because it will have a retail price of $30.00, and they just don't bother with imports that cost that much. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 832 Registered: 10-2004 |
Still haven't received this yet, and it's been three weeks since I had it special ordered. I don't know what the problem is, but it seems the distribution for this CD is sucking ass. If you look it up on Amazon it now says "ships in one to three months." (!?!?) I don't know how literally one should take that, but the crux of the story is, Microdisney is certainly not going to rake in any potential US fans with such shoddy distribution. The fact that Amoeba claims they won't even carry it (due to its high price) is just another nail in the coffin. Not that this CD would've been any more than an atom-sized blip on the radar anyway, but still... I hope it's at least getting some good attention/recognition/distribution in the UK. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 357 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, did you try ordering it through www.amazon.co.uk instead? It seems to work out at pretty much the same price - and there's no delay. My preferred amazon seller has it for cheaper than the amazon price (caiman usa) and they're quicker too! | ||
| Pat Boland Member Username: Pat_boland Post Number: 36 Registered: 05-2005 |
It's been released in Ireland - both Tower Records stores in Dublin had it in stock in October. In fact, I picked up a copy for the very reasonable sum of €19.99. A bird in the hand and all that .... As you'd expect, it's excellent. Sound quality much improved too. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1062 Registered: 08-2006 |
Jeff, as Catherine says, Amazon UK is a good way to go. And I think their shipping to the States is very reasonable. I've ordered a few things from them and they arrive surprisingly fast. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1430 Registered: 03-2005 |
taking notes . . . . That's interesting that Caiman have worked well for you, Catherine. After they failed on a couple of things for me I just wrote them off. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1063 Registered: 08-2006 |
I'll second Catherine's Caiman endorsement. I've had good experiences with them. How did they screw up with you, Randy? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1431 Registered: 03-2005 |
Maybe it's changed, but for a while it seemed like they'd just claim to have everything and at the lowest price. Then you'd order and it'd be "oh, sorry, no longer available." That happened two or three times in a row and I refused to order anything from them thereafter. I get very good results with a California outfit called Import CD Specialists. They have surprisingly difficult things for reasonable prices and I have a constant flow of orders with them. For example, they sent me the Panics' "Crack in the Wall." Very little by the Panics turns up in the US. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 359 Registered: 05-2005 |
That's a shame, Randy - I'd often choose Caiman over Amazon itself, because in my experience, delivery is much quicker. I'm amazed you can get the Panics anywhere in the northern hemisphere! I had to order Cruel Guards from Redeye. Must get my act together and order the older stuff. I'm enjoying CG so much, I want to figure out how they got to that point.. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1432 Registered: 03-2005 |
Catherine, get "Sleeps Like a Curse" first. It's definitely their most important previous record. Are you still using internet cafes, or did you get a connection at home? | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 360 Registered: 05-2005 |
Still using cafes, mostly, with the odd visit (during breaks!) at work. Will be moving house in the next few months, so unless I go for a mobile connection, I'll probably not bother until I'm settled in the new spot. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 833 Registered: 10-2004 |
Thanks for the tip re: Amazon.uk.co. I've already special ordered it through a local record shop called Mod Lang, and I've given them the requisite $5 deposit, so I'm just waiting it out while the distributor keeps delaying it. I guess my main point is that I've never had quite this much difficulty in obtaining import-only releases. That, of course, doesn't help the Microdisney "legacy," any. Usually it's easier when you can buy imports straight from the source, which is what I did with Cathal's "Foburg." Pricey, but it arrived quickly and easily. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1924 Registered: 05-2005 |
I tell you what Jeff, this palaver is the most interest Micro have had in 20 years, keep it up mate! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 836 Registered: 10-2004 |
I know - I think we've already out-posted the "Daunt Square" thread over at Cathal's message board. Of course I'm partly to blame for that. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 895 Registered: 10-2004 |
At last, the moment I know you've all been teetering anxiously on the very edges of your seats for: the arrival of Jeff's copy of Daunt Square! And what does he think? I'm sure you're all just aching to know! A very nice package, overall. The liner notes by Mueller are, of course, spot-on. Even more brilliant and revealing is Cathal's "Microdisney's Timeless Guide to Success in the Entertainment Business," a wryly hilarious 14 point instructional list of how to maneuver your band just like Microdisney did. I've only listened to disc 1 so far tonight, and while there is little audible difference between the songs on the mid-90s Everybody's Fantastic CD reissue and those featured from that album here, there IS a very noticeable difference here from the songs that originally appeared on We Hate You South African Bastards. Basically, those tracks were given more low-end, a bit more punch, and a more open high end. And while the original LP had a huge peak in the upper-mids, here that's been swapped for a peak in the lower mids. Weird anomalies on the originals like the slight level boost about a 1 1/2 mins. into "Michael Murphy," or some slight intermittent distortion on Sean's guitar melody in "Pink Skinned Man" were left intact here, for what that's worth. Overall, the sonics across the board are quite good. But enough geek-talk. This is a great and much-needed comp, and anyone hemming or hawing on whether or not to buy this should just go out and buy it. My only quibble would be that they left off the beautiful "Helicopter of the Holy Ghost," and that tracks 10-12 should've been placed right after tracks 1-2 to make the whole thing chronologically accurate. Beginning the comp with "Hello Rascals" is a bit strange in that, as brilliant as it is, it'd be a bit like starting a Go-Betweens comp off with something moody and understated like "Someone Else's Wife" or something. Still, that this thing exists at all is almost a miracle, so at the end of the day, any quibbles are fairly meaningless. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1467 Registered: 03-2005 |
And on that recommendation, Jeff, I'll submit my order. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1871 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love the peak in the lower mids too Jeff.  | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 896 Registered: 10-2004 |
Heh-heh... Is that just a peak in the lower mids or are you happy to see me? ;) er, anyway... Yeah, not sure if my description above makes much sense now that I'm re-reading it this morning. I don't have the "Love Your Enemies" CD (CD reissue of So. African Bastards) to compare those tracks to, just the original LP (with its upper mid range frequency boost), which is the only thing that sounds notably different when a/b-ing the two. Like, they cleaned up the So. African tracks a bit, but the rest of the stuff possibly sounded fine to them so they merely boosted the overall level a bit, or something. At any rate, the only puzzling omission from disc 2 is "Genius," which to my mind is one of "Clocks" masterpieces. And as Kevin said, it's interesting (and telling, perhaps) how only a fourth of the entire comp is devoted to the Virgin albums. It seems Microdisney themselves might agree with the consensus that the pre-Virgin material is better. Another interesting point: I recently found out from the Cathal Coughlan msg. board that Cathal is living in San Diego, CA, and his "Guide to Success" in the CD fold-out being signed and dated August, 2007, San Diego, certainly confirms this. I don't know how many of you have been to San Diego, but I've spent a fair amount time there, and it's really difficult for me to imagine Cathal living in the land of sun, beaches, and palm trees (and republicans!). Those intimately familiar with his music may see the irony in this. At any rate, I hear that's where his wife is from... | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1996 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ditto for MORRISSEY too, Salford Lads Club, to Hollywood, Jeez!!!! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 898 Registered: 10-2004 |
I thought Morrissey moved to Rome? Or at least he was there a few years ago. Maybe he's back in LA. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 899 Registered: 10-2004 |
If anyone's interested, someone on the Cathal Coughlan message board posted a recent Irish Times article with Sean O'Hagan on the subject of Microdisney. Historically, Sean has seemed reluctant to talk much about Microdisney, so this is pretty interesting. It's definitely a good read, if you dig the 'Disney. I'd copy and paste it, but it's a bit long and I feel kind of self-conscious posting all that. So, here's the url: http://cathalcoughlan.com/board/viewtopi c.php?t=330 | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 2034 Registered: 05-2005 |
There's a nice page in Uncut about Cathal. He shoulda been mega, not for the money but for enriching people's lives with his wise words. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1501 Registered: 03-2005 |
My copy of this arrived yesterday. So far I've listened to the first disc. What a terrific set! It just takes you from one great thing to the next! It's everything that "Big Sleeping House" is not. My ears are screwed up by the flu right now but I think the sound has been usefully cleaned up on some things if not on everything and while Jeff already sent me at least most of what is on the albums I don't have, I still heard a couple things I didn't recognize (or that I somehow managed to lose shuffling files in iTunes). I love Cathal's funny tips for wannabe pop stars. I'm so enthused about this set that I'm thinking of buying a second copy and giving it to a friend who I've already turned onto Cathal solo. Meanwhile, on to disc two . . . . |