Clock Comes Down the Stairs (CD)

Digitally re-mastered and expanded edition of this album from the Irish band led by Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan (The High Llamas). Originally released in 1985, the Clock Comes down the Stairs was the first of three albums-the other two are the ensuing releases Crooked Mile and 39 Minutes-on which this superb band finally got it right. It was never an easy equation for Microdisney to balance-the musical prettiness of Sean O'Hagan and the lyrical savagery of Cathal Coughlan-but it all adds up here rather wondrously. The Clock Comes down the Stairs seems to be Coughlan meticulously chronicling his own decline. As is invariably the case with Coughlan, however, the decline of everyone and everything else also gets a mention. This re-issue - made in conjunction with the band - contains rare single B-sides and the complete Peel session recorded at the time. With notes in collaboration with the band by Terry Staunton and a book packed with memorabilia this release serves as a great re-introduction to this finest of Irish bands. Cherry Red.