Various Artists
Quare Groove Vol. 1
[All City Records]
Quare Groove Vol. 1 is the first archival release from Dublin’s All City Records.
Anthologized by John Byrne, Colm K, Jeremy Murphy and label head Olan, the compilation offers a glimpse into independent Irish club music from the 70s and 80s.
To unearth this music is no simple feat, considering that Ireland most certainly does not share the same wealth of dance music history that our counterparts in Italy, Germany or the UK do.
This makes the outstanding quality of music on Quare Groove all the more remarkable.
Highlights include storming Modern Soul from The Pumphouse Gang on Welcome Back Into My Life, the new wave boogie stylings of Sligo group Those Nervous Animals (whose entire back catalogue is excellent and is worth exploring for Just What the Sucker Wanted alone) and infectiously catchy disco from Belfast show band Sunshine on Give it to Me.
The freshest cuts come in the form of White Field (In Isis) by Stano, a rolling dubbed out psychedelic slice of post punk that makes excellent use of the Roland TR 808 and Losing Control by Limerick’s Barry Werner which may be Ireland’s earliest electro track and makes fine use of the same drum machine
This is an excellent first volume from All City, here’s hoping for plenty more very soon.
Words – Eoin Ryan
Like This? Try These:
Various Artists – Strange Passion: Explorations In Irish Post Punk DIY And Electronic Music 1980-1983
Various Artists – Compassion Cuts, Tapes & Acetates
Various Artists – Oz Waves
