Dublin psychedelic dreampop outfit Keeley sign to Dimple Discs for debut 'Brave Warrior' EP

"Incredibly talented and unique... in a universe of less brilliant stars. Keeley is certainly a refreshing discovery. It’s only a matter of time before she’s conquering earbuds and capturing hearts on this side of the Atlantic" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Takes all the best parts of British music in the 1990’s and grants it a second breath in the New Twenties" ~ Moths and Giraffes

"The Glitter And The Glue is a thrilling headrush of a song, whilst its partner-in-crime 'You Never Made It That Far' shows a more experimental electronic side to a band whose intrigue grows the more you discover about them” ~ Even The Stars Blog, Manchester

"The Glitter and the Glue' is as much of a blast from the past as it is poised to anchor many of this summer’s playlists... It’s a very rare occasion that an indelible pop song takes one on a journey into the darkness of the legal system, but this one does. And as bizarre as the connection between both may be, the single and the story of Inga Maria Hauser should be heard" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"This music can easily be described as dreamy and psychedelic, at times high energy and at times melancholic, but always pensive, always with a mission... Combining elements of Tamaryn, Lush, Ride, Medicine, Slowdive and Men I Trust" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

London label Dimple Discs has announced the signing of Irish psychedelic dreampop outfit Keeley to its roster, not long after releasing the critically acclaimed new album from Cathal Coughlan (The Fatima Mansions, Microdisney). The label will release her debut 'Brave Warrior' EP digitally on June 18 with a physical release planned for autumn with a long-player scheduled for 2022.

Hailing from Dublin and fronted by vocalist and guitarist Keeley, the band includes Marty Canavan on keyboards, Martin Fagan on bass and Pete Duff on drums.

This four-track collection was produced and engineered by Alan Maguire, who mixed it together with Keeley, and mastered by Anthony Chapman (Franz Ferdinand, DEVO, Cathal Coughlan, Jesus Jones, Wolfhounds).

Lead track 'The Glitter and the Glue' is a blistering buffet of psychedelic rock, post-punk and the fuzzier, more frantic end of the dreampop spectrum. The shortest, fastest and most ecstatic explosion of energy released by Keeley to date, this is a hook-laden, melodic monster of a song with very unusual lyrical content. It is already receiving Irish airplay from Newstalk FM, Radio Nova, 98FM and has now been added to the playlists of Dublin City FM, KCLR 96FM and 8Radio.

The 'Brave Warrior' EP demonstrates the multi-faceted songwriting smarts of one of Ireland’s most talked-about emerging bands, ranging from this upbeat lead track to more spacey, darkly-dreamy electronic offerings, drenched in drama and soaked in sadness. Keeley pursues an unusual conceptual thread, conceived several years ago, focusing on German tourist Inga Maria Hauser, whose murder in Northern Ireland in 1988 remains unsolved.

For the past five years, the band's frontwoman and songwriter Keeleyhas been publishing a blog with a devoted global following - 'The Keeley Chronicles' - documenting the many facets of this unique, harrowing and mystifying case, correcting the falsely published details of Inga’s life and piecing together what really happened in the final days on her trip. By working in close quarters with Northern Irish police, senior politicians and Inga’s legal representatives in Northern Ireland in concerted efforts to advance and resolve this notorious case, she is keeping the memory of this beautiful and mysterious soul alive.

"Inga is the subject of everything I write. From the moment I first read about her exactly five years ago now, her cause became a burning obsession for me. Since that day I haven’t written a song about anyone or anything else... I consider myself a concept artist and my purpose is to give Inga a voice," says Keeley.

In October 2020, Keeley released the debut single 'Last Words’, topping Newstalk FM’s airplay chart, getting playlisted by RTE Radio 1 and 8Radio, and attracting support from radio in multiple countries. Picked by legendary broadcaster Tom Dunne as one of his ‘Top Tracks of 2020’, it was listed at #12 in Radio Nova's ’Top 15 Irish Songs of 2020’ and, upon its release, she became the subject of full-page articles in the Belfast Telegraph and Derry Post newspapers, a frankly unheard-of feat for an indie artist on their debut single.

Dimple Discs is a new Peckham label with deep Irish music connections, founded in 2018 by Damian O'Neill of The Undertones and Brian O'Neill, initially as a vehicle for Damian's solo projects. It has now grown to encompass such artists as The Undertones, Cathal Coughlan, Kev Hopper, Eileen Gogan, Dragon Welding, Nick Haeffner and Baby Shakes with forthcoming archive material from Microdisney and Fatima Mansions.

"We are thrilled to have Keeley joining us as she is an exciting new talent - we were hooked from the opening bars of 'The Glitter And The Glue'. Welcome to the family Keeley!" says Brian O'Neill.

Already recording new works at Darklands Audio in Dublin, where Fontaines D.C. recorded their first album, Keeley looks forward to releasing this 'Brave Warrior' EP on June 18. It can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp with 'Glitter and The Glue' being offered for immediate download with any order.


CREDITS
Keeley – Vocals & Guitars
Alan Maguire – Keyboards & Programming
All songs written by Keeley, except 'You Never Made It That Far' by Keeley/Kiang
All songs published by Copyright Control
Recorded, produced & engineered by Alan Maguire in Portebello, Dublin
Mixed by Alan Maguire & Keeley
Mastering by Anthony Chapman, London
Front & rear cover artwork by Maaike van Liempt
All photography & inner sleeve artwork by Keeley
Keeley logo – Design: Gav Icon Hodgins. Idea: Keeley
Layout by Bruce Brand at Arthole, London
This record is dedicated to the memory of Inga Maria Hauser - the bravest warrior (1969-1988)


Keep up with Keeley
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Dimple Discs
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Discogs | Proper Music | Press contact

Ireland's CATHAL COUGHLAN (Fatima Mansions, Microdisney) presents 'Falling Out North Street' single

Ireland's Cathal Coughlan (The Fatima Mansions, Microdisney) presents 'Falling Out North Street' from acclaimed ’Song Of Co-Aklan’ LP with video by Marry Waterson.

“The lyrics are uniformly excellent…Coughlan reminds you again and again just how good he is” ~ The Irish Times

"A brilliant opus... perhaps his best record to date" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Each slice of spiky post-punk/pop is every bit as intriguing as his witty and acerbic lyrics” ~ Sunday Times

"Coughlan’s sixth solo album is a real gem” ~ Hot Press

"Definitively affirms Coughlan's place amid Ireland's poetic pantheon” ~MOJO (4 stars)

"Song Of Co-Aklan is a more than welcome return from a puckish master of social observation and surreal manifesto” ~ The Wire

“…shows off a rich, Scott Walker-ish voice that’s aging superbly…a welcome return” ~ Uncut

Cathal Coughlan, one of Ireland’s most revered and iconic songwriters, presents 'Falling Out North Street' from his acclaimed 'Song of Co-Aklan' LP, his first new music in ten years and sixth album to date.

Best known as co-founder and vocalist for seminal 80s/90s bands Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions, Coughlan has been described as "the most underrated lyricist in pop today" by The Guardiannewspaper. DJ John Peel was also such a fan that he stated he could "listen to Cathal Coughlan sing the phone book".

Clichés aside, Coughlan returned with what can only be described as a ‘vengeance’. Vengeance, perhaps, on those who thought he might not have another great album in him, perhaps vengeance on himself for doubting that might actually be true. But it wasn’t. After a 10-year absence as a solo artist, Cathal Coughlan’s ’Song Of Co-Aklan’ album has been widely heralded as one of his finest, drawing national media attention in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, France, Switzerland and beyond.

Three singles - ‘Song of Co-Aklan', 'The Knockout Artist' and 'Owl In The Parlour' - show the album’s diversity in tempo and sonic arrangement, corralled by Coughlan's brooding baritone, caustic wit and irresistible choruses. Radio play across Ireland has been unprecedented, culminating in a playlist slot on RTE1 and steadfast UK support from Gideon Coe at BBC 6Music and John Kennedy at Radio X. The LP has even made inroads into US college radio with play on stations like LA's KXLU, WFMU (New Jersey) and KDHX (St. Louis).

'Falling Out North Street' showcases a more reflective, downtempo mood, mirrored in a dream-like short film, directed by acclaimed Yorkshire-based musician and artist Marry Waterson.

"The song tries to describe the absurdity of trying to keep hold of sanity, dignity or confidence in the face of the remorseless advance of time. From the start of the song, a circular pattern from the bass guitar and a plucked cello advances implacably, as the vocal and some transient instrumental elements try to pick a way through the debris of lives and communities. A broad chorus breaks the deadlock every so often, where exhortations are attempted by a wall of voices. Eventually, the singer has to suggest that he and the person he's addressing might have been better off and happier all along had they been pavement purveyors of shouted gibberish and box-room detritus. And so the song ends,” says Cathal Coughlan.

"This video work by Marry Waterson is astonishingly beautiful, and reveals more of itself on each viewing. Rather in the way that one hopes one's music might do for the listener. A musician of renown herself, I think Marry has this magic in both fields. Really, I couldn't ask for a better accompaniment to this song, itself also a patchwork of memories reliable and otherwise, experienced intermittently as the human condition reduces everything to a twilit facsimile.”

This album features Coughlan's long-time collaborators from the Grand Necropolitan Quartet - namely Nick Allum (The Fatima Mansions, The Apartments), James Woodrow and Audrey Riley (notable collaborator of Lush, The Sundays, The Smiths, Nick Cave, The Cure and Coldplay).

On this album, Microdisney/High Llamas bassist Jonathan Fell unites with Nick Allum and Coughlan for the first time since the Fatima Mansions 'Against Nature' LP in 1989. Microdisney/ High Llamas alumnus John Bennett also makes an appearance.

The LP also features Sean O'Hagan (Microdisney, High Llamas, Stereolab), Luke Haines (The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) and Rhodri Marsden (Scritti Politti), as well as contributions by acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Eileen Gogan, Andrías Ó Grúama (Fatima Mansions) and Cory Gray (The Delines) on wurlitzer piano.

The 'Song of Co-Aklan' LP is now available across online platforms, such as Apple Music and Spotify, as well as physically. It can be ordered at https://ffm.to/ songofcoaklanalbum.

ALBUM CREDITS
Nick Allum – drums and percussion
Audrey Riley – cello
James Woodrow – electric & acoustic guitars
Rhodri Marsden – bass guitar, bassoon
Luke Haines – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, synth
Jonathan Fell – bass guitar
Sean O’Hagan – bass guitar & vocals, synth
Eileen Gogan – vocals
Andrías Ó Grúama – frictive guitar
John Bennett – vocals & slide guitar
Cory Gray – wurlitzer piano
Cathal Coughlan – Co-Aklan
Mastered by George Shilling
Cover by Bruce Brand & Mary Tee at Arthole
Front cover painting by Cristabel Christo, based in part on photos by Gregory Dunn / Stoneybutter
Composed and deranged by Cathal Coughlan


Keep up with Cathal Coughlan
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify| Apple Music

Irish indie legend Cathal Coughlan (The Fatima Mansions, Microdisney) releases much anticipated 'Song of Co-Aklan' LP

"Song Of Co-Aklan definitively affirms Coughlan's place amid Ireland's poetic pantheon” ~ MOJO (4 stars)

"Song Of Co-Aklan is a more than welcome return from a puckish master of social observation and surreal manifesto” ~ The Wire

“…shows off a rich, Scott Walker-ish voice that’s aging superbly…a welcome return” ~ Uncut

"The most underrated lyricist in pop today" ~ The Guardian

"A brilliant opus... To say that Coughlan’s new 12-song collection are sounds for sore ears would be an understatement... perhaps his best record to date" ~ The Spill Magazine

"[I could] listen to Cathal Coughlan sing the phone book" ~ John Peel

“A wry and frequently abrasive commentator on society and politics for 40 years now. Now he’s back with Song of Co-Aklan, an album that sees him doing what he does best... Both strange and touching in roughly equal measure” ~ Essentially Pop

Irish music legend Cathal Coughlan presents the 'Song of Co-Aklan' LP, his sixth to date. His first new music in ten years, the London-based Cork native is best known as co-founder and vocalist for seminal 80s/90s bands Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions, who toured internationally with U2.

Coughlan has been described as "the most underrated lyricist in pop today" by The Guardian newspaper. DJ John Peel was also such a fan that he stated he could "listen to Cathal Coughlan sing the phone book".

"In the couple of years prior to making the record, I’d renewed contact with the other members of Microdisney, several of whom appear on this record, as part of the reunion shows we played in Ireland and the UK. As the result of that, and of other shows I’d played as a vocalist and collaborator, I found new musical acquaintances whose work suggested a wide palette. It felt important to make music in a more convivial setting than had been possible in a long time, which worked well until, midway through the recording, the pandemic dictated that the community of contributors had to become virtual," says Cathal Coughlan.

Recorded in London, this album features Coughlan's long-time collaborators from the Grand Necropolitan Quartet - namely Nick Allum(The Fatima Mansions, The Apartments), James Woodrow and Audrey Riley (notable collaborator of Lush, The Sundays, The Smiths, Nick Cave, The Cure and Coldplay).

On this album, Microdisney/High Llamas bassist Jonathan Fell unites with Nick Allum and Coughlan for the first time since the Fatima Mansions 'Against Nature' LP in 1989. Microdisney/ High Llamas alumnus John Bennett also makes an appearance.

The LP also features Sean O'Hagan (Microdisney, High Llamas, Stereolab), Luke Haines (The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) and Rhodri Marsden (Scritti Politti), as well as contributions by acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Eileen Gogan, Andrías Ó Grúama (Fatima Mansions) and Cory Gray (The Delines) on wurlitzer piano.

Emmy award-winning director George Seminara created videos for title track ‘Song of Co-Aklan' and the latest single 'The Knockout Artist', and Andy Golding (The Wolfhounds, Dragon Welding) revealed a hallucinatory infomercial-style video for 'Owl In The Parlour'.

The eye-catching cover art for the 'Song of Co-Aklan’ LP is by outsider artist Cristabel Christo and originated by Bruce Brand, award winning designer for The Darkness and Whites Stripes.

One of Ireland’s most revered singer-songwriters, Coughlan is beloved by fans of caustic literate lyricism and erudite songcraft. Since Fatima Mansions' demise in the mid-90s, he has released five acclaimed solo albums and been involved in numerous collaborations and guest appearances. He and Microdisney bandmates were the first recipients of Ireland’s National Concert Hall Trailblazer Award in 2019, celebrating culturally important albums by iconic Irish musicians, songwriters and composers (for 1985’s 'The Clock Comes Down The Stairs').

As of March 26, the 'Song of Co-Aklan' album will be available across online platforms, such as Apple Music and Spotify, as well as physically. It can be purchased at https://ffm.to/songofcoaklanalbum.

ALBUM CREDITS
Nick Allum – drums and percussion
Audrey Riley – cello
James Woodrow – electric & acoustic guitars
Rhodri Marsden – bass guitar, bassoon
Luke Haines – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, synth
Jonathan Fell – bass guitar
Sean O’Hagan – bass guitar & vocals, synth
Eileen Gogan – vocals
Andrías Ó Grúama – frictive guitar
John Bennett – vocals & slide guitar
Cory Gray – wurlitzer piano
Cathal Coughlan – Co-Aklan
Mastered by George Shilling
Cover by Bruce Brand & Mary Tee at Arthole
Front cover painting by Cristabel Christo, based in part on photos by Gregory Dunn / Stoneybutter
Composed and deranged by Cathal Coughlan


Keep up with Cathal Coughlan
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify| Apple Music

Cathal Coughlan (The Fatima Mansions, Microdisney) presents 'Owl In The Parlour' single

"The most underrated lyricist in pop today" ~ The Guardian

"[I could] listen to Cathal Coughlan sing the phone book" ~ John Peel

"Devilish genius... has always been a joyous thorn in the side of Irish alternative music; erudite, scathing, never afraid to tread his own, rockier path" ~ Backseat Mafia

“Coughlan is a wise and modest artist with big ideas, a witty and clever songwriter with a biting yet endearing edge” ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Irish indie music legend Cathal Coughlan presents 'Owl In The Parlour', the second track from his forthcoming album 'Song of Co-Aklan', his first new music in ten years, to be released via London label Dimple Discs. The accompanying video was created by Andy Golding (The Wolfhounds, Dragon Welding), presenting Co-Aklan in an infomercial of the most hallucinatory and lurid kind, which is nonetheless friendly and persuasive in tone.

"This song is, in part, a survey of the options in personal couture, animal husbandry and ‘inexpensive' domestic staffing, which are now available to the spry middle-aged man in this era of global communication. In this gilded age, we are simultaneously interlinked and mutually repelled as never before, whether we live in remote settlements in war-torn parts of the world, or in the mosaic of postage-stamp-sized semi-detached fortresses and gargantuan fulfilment hubs that is the English Hinterland in 2021," says Cathal Coughlan.

Earlier, Coughlan released the title track ‘Song of Co-Aklan’, along with a video that is a hermetic visual feast, created by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker George Seminara.

Best known as co-founder and vocalist for seminal 80s/90s bands Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions, who toured internationally with U2, the Cork native has been described as "the most underrated lyricist in pop today" by The Guardian newspaper. DJ John Peel was also such a fan that he stated he could "listen to Cathal Coughlan sing the phone book".

Recorded in London, this song features contributions from Luke Haines (The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) on bass and baritone guitar and members of Coughlan's long-time collaborators for the Grand Necropolitan Quartet. Namely Nick Allum (The Fatima Mansions, The Apartments) is on drums and James Woodrow is on guitar, with synth by Audrey Riley (notable collaborator of Lush, The Sundays, The Smiths, Nick Cave, The Cure, The Go-Betweens, Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine Wheel, Moloko and Coldplay, among others).

The eye-catching cover art for the 'Song of Co-Aklan’ LP is by outsider artist Cristabel Christo and originated by Bruce Brand, award winning designer for The Darkness and Whites Stripes.

Cathal Coughlan is widely considered to be one of Ireland’s most revered singer-songwriters, beloved by fans of caustic literate lyricism and erudite songcraft. Since Fatima Mansions' demise in the mid-90s, he has released five acclaimed solo albums, taken part in an array of collaborations and made numerous guest appearances. Along with Microdisney bandmates, he was the first recipient in 2019 of Ireland’s National Concert Hall Trailblazer Award, which celebrates culturally important albums by iconic Irish musicians, songwriters and composers (for 1985’s 'The Clock Comes Down The Stairs').

As of February 5, 'Owl In The Parlour' will be released digitally, available across online platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. Lead track ‘Song of Co-Aklan’ can already be found on these same platforms. The full album, set for release on March 26, can be pre-ordered at https://ffm.to/songofcoaklanalbum.

CREDITS
Nick Allum - drums and percussion
James Woodrow - electric & acoustic guitars
Luke Haines - bass guitar, baritone guitars, The Synth
Cathal Coughlan - Co-Aklan
Mastered by George Shilling
Cover by Bruce Brand & Mary Tee at Arthole
Front cover painting by Cristabel Christo, based in part on photos by Gregory Dunn / Stoneybutter
Composed and deranged by Cathal Coughlan


Keep up with Cathal Coughlan
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify| Apple Music |