Name: The Clock Comes Down The stairs
Brand: Microdisney

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

cdmred581

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2013-06-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cherry Red (ADA)

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5013929157934

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Microdisney

Genre GB

Indie Pop / Shoegaze

Label GB

Cherry Red

Cherry Red is a British label that was founded by Iain McNay in 1978. Also known as Cherry Red Records, this label has become associated with the company Music and Media Group. With the label code LC 6730, Cherry Red has made a name for itself in the music industry. It is important to note that this label should not be confused with the US label of the same name.

Microdisney, originally known as Constant Reminders, was a five-piece band from Cork, Ireland. Formed in 1980, the band included Mick Lynch, Cathal Coughlan, Sean O'Hagan, Giordaí Ua Laoghaire, and Chris McCarthy. They made their debut in August of that year with a live recording called 'Kaught At The Kampus'. Over the course of two years, they recorded demos and radio sessions and released songs on various labels. Microdisney was known for their unique blend of punk and funk music. They regularly performed in Cork and Dublin as well as other cities in Ireland.

In July 1981, Microdisney played their only show outside of Ireland in Southampton. By 1982, the band had undergone lineup changes and eventually became a duo consisting of Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan. Their first duo records were aired by John Peel on his show, gaining them recognition beyond Ireland. The rest is history!

Today you can find Microdisney's music available for purchase on our e-commerce website.

Microdisney began recording in their native town of Cork, Ireland. Their first few singles, including 1983's 'Pink Skinned Man', were produced by Dave Feeley, and released on indie label Kabuki records. After relocating to London, they signed to Rough Trade, and utilised John Porter (producer of The Smiths) to produce their debut album, 'Everybody is Fantastic'. At this time, the band became acquainted with John Peel, who championed their music, and gave them the first of several celebrated Peel Sessions. Originally released in 1985, 'The Clock Comes down the Stairs' was the first of three albums - the other two are the ensuing releases 'Crooked Mile' and '39 Minutes' - on which this superb band finally got it right. It was never an easy equation for Microdisney to balance - the musical prettiness of Sean O'Hagan and the lyrical savagery of Cathal Coughlan - but it all adds up here rather wondrously. 'The Clock Comes down the Stairs' seems to be Coughlan meticulously chronicling his own decline. As is invariably the case with Coughlan, however, the decline of everyone and everything else also gets a mention. In the mid-1980s, bands were either in the charts, which meant they sounded like Wham!, or they were alternative, in which case they sounded like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Nobody really knew what to do with a collection of recalcitrant Irishmen whose music evoked Jimmy Webb, Steely Dan and The Walker Brothers, and whose words were consumed with paranoia and disgust. On 'Goodbye It's 1987' - a startlingly unconcerned-sounding prediction of Armageddon - Cathal introduces one of O'Hagan's impeccable guitar solos with the muttered exhortation 'Let's tax the wages of sin'. In the summer of Live Aid, it was never likely to be a big radio favourite. This re-issue - made in conjunction with the band - contains rare single B-sides and the complete Peel session recorded at the time. With notes in collaboration with the band by Terry Staunton and a book packed with memorabilia this release serves as a great re-introduction to this finest of Irish bands.

The Clock Comes Down The stairs

Music GB