- Music
- 22 May 01
Colm O'Callaghan's 1990
Once again, in 1990 Irish pop flattered to deceive, but what’s new, eh? These days, genuine enthusiasm tends to cloud judgements and down here, in the arse end of the world, the merest glint of gold is always welcomed – usually with relative rapture. The sad reality, however, is that this year, once again, Munster was starved of worthy pop.
Cork, for all its gloom has, at least, some bands – but with the exception of the rather succulent Lift – a three-piece, jangling mobile with a handful of live shows and a great name – there is little that’s new to rave about – yet.
Granted, The Frank And Walters have tuned their insanities into the mainstream, but they’re still very much of an untried item. Sure, the songs are there, but if only it was that simple. The Belsonic Sound are reborn and revamped, and now that they’re mining a groovier, dancier, seam, they might just successfully ditch that white reggae milestone. The How and Why Insects too have discovered pedal power, dance and pop; the companies have found them too – though, as we all know, talk is cheap. But don’t be surprised if Benny’s Head are the ones to ultimately walk casually into your bedrooms and sit all over your pop minds. They’ve already scored with ‘Backwater’, their benign Danceline debut and there’s a whole cove of treasure waiting to be trawled.
Bedroom Convention too are a potential diamond, although culling so casually from the books of pop can be dangerous. Ruby Horse continue to promise, though they have yet to deliver: they’re young, restless and cunning and might yet have their day – 1993, perhaps. But with The Sultans of Ping FC hacking at the base of cartoon punk, and The Eccentric Hedgehogs intent on imitating the Black Velvet Band, the cupboard still looks relatively bare.
Advertisement
My compass, then, is set for Limerick. This is a city that is happening – and indeed may shortly explode without warning. The biggest blast will be made by the Cranberry Sauce – a five-piece, bleach-blonde, girls-pop pearl with oodles of grace and a bucketful of raw promise. But with The Hitchers, A Touch of Oliver, Tho’ Stilted Boys, They Do It With Mirrors and the raffishly peerless The Coup all waiting in line, they will not be alone. You have been warned.
The West may be awake but for too long the South has been asleep – there’s reason for optimism in Limerick but otherwise the chant for the new year is Wake Up Munster – you’re dead!