Lara Minchin and Lachlann Ó Fionnáin of fast-rising Irish garage-punk outfit Adore share their all-time favourite tracks, spanning from Wire, Paul Brady and Gilla Band to Brian Eno, The Breeders, and Dutch glam-rock mystery Pantherman
With support from Shark School, Adore headline Whelan’s in Dublin on Saturday, 2nd November. Go here for tickets
Lachlann Ó Fionnáin:
Gilla Band – Why’d They Hide the Bodies Under My Garage?
When I was 16, I saw Gilla Bnd for the first time on the 2nd of their two nights in Vicar Street in 2019. I kinda did it to challenge myself as I was very anxious at the time so solo travelling from Letterkenny to a Gilla Band gig made the most sense. Anyway, this song was absolute chaos live, and I loved it. And also, for the first time, I completely forgot what I was worried about. It really inspired a sense that I could feel better if I tried and I’m quite happy now that I have.
Osibisa – Dance the Body Music
Massive left turn here, ‘Dance The Body Music’. Very straightforward message: “dance the body music” because it “makes you feel so happy”. Very simple, very necessary. I found it on a CD over lockdown and it is possibly the happiest song I’ve ever listened to. Just so joyous and devoid of cynicism. I absolutely love this song, I think it’s brilliant.
Paul Brady – Arthur Mc Bride
Real sense of home from this one. Now that we’re travelling a bit more I do end up missing home more but ‘Arthur Mc Bride’ is a really good one for that. I gave myself the challenge of learning it over Christmas, but I’ll never get it that good. Stunningly beautiful recording, always been very close to my heart.
LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends
Another all time favourite, largely associated by my introduction to LCD Soundsystem being my wonderful childhood friend Anthony’s dad, Derek. One of those family’s you really feel at home with, and while the initial recommendation was the equally fantastic ‘Dance Yrself Clean,’ ‘All My Friends’ has taken the edge after some really special nights in the Cottage, Letterkenny, courtesy of the uneclipsable DH Dano. This all comes to a wonderful conclusion in that I associate this song with having a great night with friends I don’t get to see very often, which is largely the topic of the song itself and I love that kinda thing.
Lara Minchin:
The Breeders – Safari
‘Safari’ was the first Breeders song I ever heard. I first saw the music video at around 14 years old. I really didn’t have a prominent female role model in music until then, there was something about the Blondies and Joan Jetts (although incredibly fabulous) that I couldn’t relate to. When I heard Josephine Wigg and Kim and Kelley Deal, it absolutely rattled me. Kim Deal’s ever present grin is not only seen in the video but heard throughout her discography. I love the simplicity of the song, although there’s always an unexpected element with the Breeders. It’s raw, natural, fun and real loud and it’s one of my favourite tunes of all time.
Wire – Mannequin
There’s something about this song that gives me a sense of nostalgia even though I have only known it in my adult life. There’s a real sense of longing that is brought on by the harmonies in the chorus. There’s a sort of wistful defeat, everything is how it is and it’ll be alright, that’s the feeling I get from the song.
Brian Eno – Needles in the Camel’s Eye
This song drives me mental in the most wonderful way. The way it just starts, straight in, no kissing. The middle eight makes me do a backflip every single time, the little stops, uggghhh. This song makes me feel like I’m footloose and fancy free, I’m young, broke and everything is alright. I think my record of consecutive plays of this song was five.
Pantherman – Give It To Me
Pantherman is my favourite latex covered one-man glam-rock band from the Netherlands who never made it. Man started his musical project in 1974 after seeing Roxy music play. I found pantherman two years ago while I was researching Dutch glam rock, affectionately referred to as “Nederglam”. I went on a mission to find where he is now. I ended up finding the masked man’s email through LinkedIn and have sent him one email a year since. He has not replied and I fear he is dead 🙁
‘Give it To Me’ has my favourite bass sound I’ve ever heard. The lyrics are simple” he wants you, he wants your love, he wants it so bad; will you give it to him? Pantherman quenches a very particular thirst in me that no one else ever has.
