Virgin Prunes

[Eoin McLove]

One of those band names that seeped into my consciousness somewhere back in the mists of time, but I can't recall ever hearing any of their music. I remember my uncle mentioning them before actually. They used to play around Dublin in the late 70s and 80s, and I think he helped put on a show along the way.

On a whim I fired them on this evening and fucking hell, it's a weird and interesting noise they made. To my untrained ear I'm hearing Killing Joke, David Bowie and other points of influence that are on the tip of my tongue, but I can't quite nail down.

I wonder were MDB listening to them back in the early days because for some reason I'm hearing a similarity to a certain vibe on TLTS. Sadness as well on Ames des Marbres.

Has their stuff been reissued at all or is it all going for mad money on Discogs?

[Skott Furys jizz rag]

Great band, Ireland really does post punk quite well. They only have two albums, which were reissued a few years back. I'm not sure about the E.Ps though

[Eoin McLove]

Sweety, cheers man. I must have a snoop around for those reissues.

Which other Irish post punk bands are worth a listen?

[Pentagrimes]

Princess Tinymeat, who i think shared a member or two,  have their moments..some awful shit on the "Herstory" lp, but "Sloblands" and "Wigs on the Green" are incredible tunes with walls of guitar that I think slightly predate MBV's  move into similar territory in the late 80s. There's also some mental footage of them on the Late Late in 85 where Gaybo is absolute baffled by them doing what amounts to 3 minutes of harsh noise with some effeminate rambling over the top.

If I'm in the right mood VP are incredible. Other times they're insufferable. But they're at all times intriguing. It's mostly been reissued in the last few years I think,  but I picked up an OG copy of "If I die.." for about a tenner a couple years ago I  Spindizzy.

What I've heard of Operating Theatre , who were more electronic, is interesting as well in places.

[Trev]

The singer Davey lives by my parents, used to walk their dog a bit

He played some of the stuff he's working on these days a while back, very avant-garde electric stuff, not my thing at all. Nice fella though

[John Kimble]

Always thought they were a band I should perhaps check out but I think that Gavin Friday lad just put me off them. Comes across as a bit of a spa.

[Trev]

The singer Davey lives by my parents, used to walk their dog a bit

He played me some of the stuff he's working on these days a while back, very avant-garde electric stuff, not my thing at all. Nice fella though

[Skott Furys jizz rag]

Sweety, cheers man. I must have a snoop around for those reissues.

Which other Irish post punk bands are worth a listen?

Stump were brilliant, batshit stuff, Mick was a real gent as well.
Gilla Band (formerly girl band) are great, fine and noisy.
Five go down to sea are also quite good

[Sworntothecans]

Gavin Friday lad just put me off them. Comes across as a bit of a spa.

Aye, the bits I've heard of VP I dug but Friday is a dose.