Welcome to episode 56 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, L’affare and Yeastie Boys. This one is a chat with musician Paul McLaney.

This conversation was recorded over a year ago – it was to be one of the earliest podcast episodes, and then I lost it, then I found it and it was full of static. I’ve had it cleaned up a bit and it’s listenable, but apologies in advance for a thread of static that you’ll hear fade in under us talking. You can still make out the conversation clearly enough – and it was a  great chat about influences and influencing, about music across McLaney’s many pseudonyms (The Impending Adorations, Gramsci) and his solo work.

Paul has also served behind the scenes, working for Mushroom Publishing.

I’ve met Paul a few times and we’ve always had great – intense – music conversations. He’s a fan with passion and knowledge. This whole podcast could have been about Frank Sinatra. And maybe I’ll get him back to record a new, static-free conversation that updates us on the last couple of years but also goes off into discussion of Sinatra and the many other musical passions…worryingly perhaps, we talk a bit about Dire Straits and Jethro Tull here already.

From solo acoustic recordings and guitar instrumentals to heavier electric guitars, electronica and sound-collage extrapolations, McLaney is a diverse talent. He’s been part of the SJD band and worked with Rhian Sheehan, he’s been on stage as part of Fly My Pretties and he’s worked under the name Gramsci as both a solo-moniker and band-leader.

I was thrilled to rediscover this conversation – I remember really enjoying it at the time, despite that threat of static. It’s great to be able to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it…

You’ve found this via the link on Facebook or Twitter and/or from the Off The Tracks website – it’s hosted at Soundcloud and to receive the episodes before you even get tothese show notes you can subscribe on iTunes. You can also rate and review the podcast there.

Day-time visitors to the den get to have tea now, thanks to T Leaf T or coffee thanks to L’affare or, later in the day, they can have a beer from the wonderful Yeastie Boys.  My thanks as always to these great sponsors. If you want to advertise on the podcast or sponsor an episode, or more, please do get in touch.

Please enjoy episode 56 Sweetman Podcast, my conversation of with Paul McLaney