Music
14 Jul 08

The Chart of Noise

Noise terrorists Paranoid Visions have had their first hit record after 30 years. Is this mere carelessness or part of a cunning plan to subvert the nation?

If you survived the Irish punk wars of the late ‘70s you’re quite possibly shaking your head in a combination of elation and disbelief at the news that The Treasure From The Wasteland EP by Paranoid Visions, containing versions of tracks by The Atrix and DC Nien among others, has just appeared in the charts.

Guitarist P.A. jovially admits that they may have taken their eye off the ball, while also making a serious point about today’s music scene.
“Bands are frightened of upsetting anybody in case it stops them getting a record deal or a spot on a big money sponsored bill," he says. "We got slagged off by some for our version of the national anthem on Podge And Rodge, but that’s what rock ‘n’ roll is all about. It’s not about safe jobs, it’s about pushing boundaries, making people think, and doing whatever you want on your own terms. There’s nobody who can sack us. Bands should just play the music they want to play and not care who hates it or not. We don’t give a toss. It’s only taken Ireland 30 years to catch up with us and we’re now working on an album of original material.”
The Dubliners turned antagonism into a fine art and drew much loathing with their venomous U2 parody, ‘I Will Wallow’, which was a reaction to every major label during the ‘80s wanting a Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam of their own.
“Ourselves, The Atrix, DC Nien, The Radiators, Napalm Sunday, The Threat and the others we namecheck on the cover of the EP deserve much more credit for what was going on in Dublin back then,” singer Deko Dachau proffers. “But we were stifled. All the attention and exposure and record deals went to U2 wannabes like Cactus World News and Fountainhead. They were desperate for hit records, but all we wanted to do was make noise. Fortunately, our music still has that raw energy and sense of aggression that all great rock music has.”
Apart from the new album they plan two further releases like the EP to commemorate the three generations of Irish punk. So get used it, Paranoid Visions will be around for a while.

Paranoid Visions’ The Treasure From The Wasteland EP is out now on Foad Records.