The Plague Monkeys
Country of origin:
Ireland
Type of music generally:
Ethereal alternative pop
Status:
Final release, The Sunburn Index (1999)
See also:
The Plague Monkeys siteThe Ectophiles' Guide entry for a band that two of the members later formed, The Tycho Brahe/Tychonaut and singer Carol Keogh's later project, Natural History Museum
Singer Carol Keogh's site
Comparisons:
Cocteau Twins, Innocence Mission, The Tycho Brahe/Tychonaut
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Ethereal, dreamy pop in the Cocteau Twins vein. Carol Keogh has a gorgeous and amazingly evocative, Kate Bush-like high voice that goes so well with this kind of music. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Either
Recordings:
- Surface Tension (1998)
- The Sunburn Index (1999)
Surface Tension
Release info:
1998—Crosstown Music—CrossCD02
Availability:
Used
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of ethereal pop
Group members:
Donal O'Mahony—guitars, keyboards, mandolin
Carol Keogh—vocals
Thomas Haugh—drums, percussion, keyboards
Barry Roden—bass
Guest artists:
Joe Chester—backing vocals (2)
Kevin Murphy—cello (11)
Produced by:
The Plague Monkeys
Comments:
This is a lovely album. Unfortunately it tends to blur a little bit as so many ethereal pop albums do, but there are lovely songs here and it rewards close listening. (Neile)
The Sunburn Index
Release info:
1999—Crosstown Music—CrossCD03
Availability:
Used
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of ethereal pop/rock
Group members:
Carol Keogh—vocals, bicycle horn
Donal O'Mahony—electric guitar, acoutric guitar, 12-string guitar, steel guitar, mini Moog, keyboards, piano
Thomas Haugh—drums, percussion, keyboards
Barry Roden—bass
Guest artists:
Kim Purcell—piano (8)
Produced by:
Donal O'Mahony and The Plague Monkeys
Comments:
Like Surface Tension, this is a disc that rewards attention. It can slip by if you're not really listening, but the more attentively you listen the more there is to hear. It's obvious even to the casual listener, though, that Carol Keogh's vocals are lovely and the songs are carefully constructed. You realize just how very true this is over time. It's a grower. (Neile)
