V.A. Strange Passion

Focusing on a three year period from 1980 to 1983, Strange Passion is a compilation
of rare, unheralded and unreleased Irish music that emerged after the first wave of
punk and new wave bands. A time when the raw primitive sounds of punk began to
absorb new ideas and technologies and emerging acts were reaching audiences on
an unprecedented scale thanks to new magazines such as Hot Press and Heat, RTE
Radio 2 and it’s Fanning Sessions, as well as new youth magazine programmes on
national TV like Anything Goes. Access to UK’s broadcasting and magazine cultural
behemoths (Peel, NME, Morley etc.) as well as touring bands such as The Clash and
PIL also played their part in creating an appetite for this thrilling new subculture and
soon venues such as The Magnet, Dandelion and Project Arts Centre in Dublin and
Kampus in Cork became significant live music hubs.
This was catalysed by new youth scenes which sprung up particularly in the main
urban centres of Belfast, Derry, Dublin and Cork. Fuelled by boredom, antipathy
towards society and inspired by the developing DIY scene in the UK, new bands, independent
labels fanzines and creative art provocateurs began to emerge. Such was the
rapid growth and creative freedom of this new culture that for a couple of years there
seemed a constant stream of emerging acts producing work that was both original in
content and presentation.
Undoubtedly U2 were the breakthrough act from this new generation of acts. However,
others such as Virgin Prunes with their Dadist inspired blend of performance art and
punk offered a darker vision tapping into the latent energy of their environs which resulted
in extraordinary live events and the odd incendiary TV performance. Live legends,
The Threat and Chant! Chant! Chant! were gone almost as soon as they arrived but so
fully formed were they already that recordings they did leave behind stand as prime
examples of post punk music.
Finders Keepers Records are proud to present the first ever compendium of Irish post
punk and new wave - featuring extensive liner notes, rare photos with the full participation
of the featured artists and bands.