For over a quarter of a century, Cian Ó Cíobháin’s An Taobh Tuathail has been an almighty force in Irish broadcasting and a nightly dispatch from the edges of sound. First aired on 1st May 1999, the show has long operated as RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s flagship for leftfield and alternative music, delivering everything from ambient drift and avant-pop to underground techno and wayward folk. Presented in Irish but universal in scope, ATT has steadily, and ever increasingly built a reputation as one of the most vital and visionary radio shows on this island – and far beyond it.
This Thursday, 1st May, An Taobh Tuathail marks its 26th anniversary with a special broadcast dedicated to Manchester’s legendary Factory Records label. From Joy Division to The Durutti Column, Cian will take a deep dive into the imprint’s singular catalogue, offering a fresh perspective on one of the most influential record labels of the 20th century. Listeners are encouraged to send in their favourite lesser-known Factory gems; the kind of deep cuts that ATT has always made space for.
To celebrate the occasion, Cian has also compiled an exclusive 26-track playlist for The Thin Air, each song tied to a memory, a moment or a fragment from his long-running tenure behind the mic. It’s a rich, reflective collection, full of euphoria, grief, absurdity, connection, and above all, a testament to one of the most quietly radical voices in Irish music culture. Comhghairdeachas, Cian!
Photo by Bríd O’Donovan
Asa-Chang & Junray – Hana [2001]
The Leaf Label was one of the first labels to send promo music to the show and they’ve continued to share a wealth of great sounds with me over the decades. This unique clash of disparate sounds brings me back to the very early nights on air.
µ Ziq – The Fear [1999]
Though there was a ban on playing songs with English lyrics on the station until May 2005, I managed to sneak this one on the airwaves quite a bit in the early years (my defence being that the vocals weren’t particularly distinct). An ode to joy.
Bjork Mit Funkstorung – All Is Full Of Love (seconddotted) [1998]
Another track that has featured on the show since the very first broadcasts. Again, the lyrics sounded obscure enough for me to get it on air when songs in English weren’t allowed on late-night RnaG.
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Among Dreams [2000]
Ariel Pink is probably one of the most-played artists on the show and I think that this may have been the first song of his that was played on ATT.
Arthur Russell – Soon-To-Be Innocent Fun / Let’s See [1986]
On one memorable occasion after playing this track, I received an email from a listener: ‘Cian, you’ve out-weirded yourself tonight. What was that track you played with that guy mumbling over the cello?’
Paavoharju – Pimeänkarkelo [2008]
Gorgeous ethereal, otherworldly folk from Finland that pretty much captures the essence of the Monday & Tuesday ATT shows.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Black Hair [1997]
My mother was listening while out driving one evening and sometime later told me that she heard me play “a very sexy song” on the show. It took a while for me to figure out which song she meant. Nick Cave’s paean to PJ Harvey was the one.
Circlesqure – Stop Taking (So Many) [2009]
I used to play this on Monday nights after long weekends out dancing in Berlin. It struck a chord with listeners at the time, with that ache-y afterglow, betwixt pleasure and paranoia, that comes after spending the weekend dancing to a pounding kickdrum and not getting enough sleep.
Jane Winderen – Isolation / Measurement [2010]
Field recordings crop up on the ATT playlists from time to time and I was particularly enamoured with this recording made by Jane Winderen on field trips to the Barents Sea.
Seuil & dOP – Prostitute [2010]
Not every track I’ve played has been warmly received. I recall playing a house track in the early nights which included a vocal simulating an orgasm in Spanish and there were complaints from listeners. Many of them were listeners who had their kitchen radios habitually tuned to RnaG all day long, before eventually realising that the show might not be for them. Then, in 2010, there was a formal complaint made to the Broadcasting Authority Of Ireland about this love song to a sex worker … “like Jesus”. An official apology was made.
No Bra – Munchausen [2005]
However, I’ve gotten away with playing this cheeky & hilarious romp on numerous occasions over the years. Warning: explicit lyrics.
Grouper – Disengaged [2008]
I almost wept on air one night on air when playing this. Someone close to me at the time was going through a tough time and hearing this track just broke me.
Luboš Fišer – The Magic Yard [1970]
A huge hit with listeners. Any time I’ve played it over the years, I’ve woke up the next morning to find a few appreciative-slash-curious emails landing in the inbox.
Shackleton – Blood On My Hands (Ricardo Villalobos’ Apocalypse Now Remix) [2007]
One of the perks of presenting a radio show where you can play anything you want, with no interruptions such as ad breaks, or news bulletins, is that you can play all eighteen and-a-half minutes of this fissure-in-the-universe whenever the temptation arises.
Archangel – Julia (Dean Blunt ‘On Wine, Hasish & Molly’ Version) [2015]
Another incredible long track (23 minutes) which has been played in its entirety on ATT a number of times. The narrative is so engaging. Like a movie for the ears.
Truss – Clawdd Du [2015]
The last hour of the week (Friday night) on ATT is when all the bangers come out. This panel-beating, industrial-style heater possesses a sense of humour and personality all too rarely associated with techno.
The Jimmy Cake – Thugamar Féin An Samhradh Linn [2019]
In 2019, for the show’s 20th anniversary, I asked artists to contribute previously unreleased music and The Jimmy Cake, one of this island’s greatest and most unique bands, sent me this gorgeous version of a traditional Irish song proclaiming the arrival of summer.
Radioactive Man – Fed Ex To Muchen (Andrew Weatherall Mix) [2003]
One of the most emotional shows I ever presented was a tribute to Andrew Weatherall days after he passed. I still cry every time I hear this.
Two Lone Swordsmen – It’s Not The Worst I’ve Looked (Lali Puna Remix) [2001]
This track has been part of my life for almost a quarter of a century. I have fond memories of hearing it by chance in a bar in Friedrichshain, Berlin one snowy night in the winter of 2005 with my truelove, the night after our first jaunt to Berghain. Also played on the 2020 tribute to Andrew Weatherall show.
Mike Smalle – Andrew MCR [2021]
One last mention for Weatherall. My friend Mike Smalle composed this track, based on his impression of the last time we saw him play at A Love From Outer Space in Salford, a week before he passed. In the dream-space of Hidden. 4AM to 6AM. Utterly locked in. Our last dance before Covid closed down our communal spaces and a night that lingered large in our imagination as we wondered would we ever rave again.
Floating di Morel – Quietsch [2020]
One from the strange, fever-dream summer of 2020, when lockdown lifted briefly, though the future seemed uncertain. From the album ‘Summer Has Become Cold’. And, indeed it had.
Coyote – Will We Ever Dance Again [2021]
Broadcasting from home during lockdown, I danced like I never danced before. Easily the most dancing I’ve ever done while on air. Very therapeutic. The title of this track resonated hugely.
Billy Idol – Eyes Without A Face [1984]
Only played on the show on one occasion – for a Balearic special I did, based on the music that Alfredo played at his nights in Amnesia in Ibiza in the eighties. Otherwise, when would I ever find an opportunity to play Billy Idol on ATT?
Don Downing – Dreamworld (Tom Moulton Mix) [1974]
I discovered this while preparing for one of the ATT lockdown parties: the disco edition. How had I never heard this before? One of the greatest Northern Soul/proto-disco tracks of all time.
Mermaid Chunky – Ceilí [2024]
I had the world exclusive first play on this for ATT’s 25th anniversary shows, courtesy of DFA, a record many listeners told me soundtracked the start of their summer.
Substak – Aurora [2025]
My parting glass is a recent tune. There’s so much unengaging ambient landfill out there and then you hear this. So simple, yet utterly stunning. From a producer hailing from Athens, Greece.
