Into Paradise

Into Paradise were a great group from Dublin who mixed post punk edginess /angst with dollops of pure pop to create a rather unique and wonderful sound. The band first formed in 1986 and went by the Backwards Into Paradise handle until 1988. The name Backwards Into Paradise was a reference to the great band Blue in Heaven, also from the same leafy suburb of Dublin, Churchtown. The original line up included songwriter Dave Long and Rachel Tighe. They released the single 'Never The Same / She Is Close' on Snap-Owl Records in 1986. This work was described in Irish music mag Hot Press as sounding like "Knocking On Heaven's Door all speeded up"!!
Backwards Into Paradise also appeared on two compilations released by Comet. Comet was a marvellous little Dublin record store wherein I wasted hours and hours sifting through oceans of great second-hand and new records, and wasted lots of money too!
In 1989, after changing their name to Into Paradise, they released the 'Blue Light' EP in 1989 on the newly formed independent Irish label Setanta. The line up then was Dave Long (Vocals, Guitar), Rachel Tighe - no relation to the mad Capt Tighe from Galactica! -(Bass), James Eadie (Guitar, Keyboards) and Ronan Clarke (Drums).
The 'Blue Light' EP was selected as single of the week in the Brit music mag NME in June 1989. Back then, NME was a highly respected music journal (not the rag it now is) and being single of the week there was a huge accolade for any band. Especially bands from Ireland, as it was immensely difficult then to become known in the UK - a huge indie music market compared to the tiny pond of Ireland.
Top Irish indie DJ, (well, he was that back then - far from it now!) Dave Fanning - whose show was, in those days, a music diamond amongst the morass of Irish Radio and unmissable for indie kids like myself - played the great track I Want You from this EP regularly on his evening show through the summer of 89.
Their live shows, in the spirit of punk / post-punk, were aways highly energised, edgy, powerful affairs and in Dave Long the group had an excellent frontman who always put his heart (and blood, sweat and tears!) into the performances. A few gigs, in true rock'n'roll fashion, actually ended with fighting between band members! Soon after their first release, in 1990 came the EP 'Change' on Setanta. Later in 1990 came the band's first full-length album, 'Under the Water', also on Setanta. Setanta's first taste of success came when Into Paradise received glowing reviews from the British music press for Under The Water. A flurry of major label interest followed and Into Paradise subsequently signed to Ensign Records, while retaining Setanta head-honcho, Keith Cullen as band manager.
Later that year, Ensign/Chrysalis issued a collection called Into Paradise, in the States. This was a compilation of the Under the Water LP and the Change EP. A true fan should have this US release as well as the originals though, because of variations in the tracks. Into Paradise followed up with their most successful album - and major label debut - the Adrian Borland produced 'Churchtown' in 1991.
This was followed by two great Mini Albums;
'Down All The Days' -1992
'For No One' -1993
The two mini albums are excellent, especially Down All The Days which may be their best work. They will always be remembered by their many fans.
Into Paradise discography:
* Never The Same (EP) (1986) ... under the name BIP
* Blue Light (EP) (1989)
* Change (EP) (1990)
* Under The Water (1990)
* Into Paradise (1990 US-only compilation)
* Burns My Skin (Single) (1991)
* Churchtown (1991)
* Angel (Single) (1991)
* Down all the days (1992)
* Angelus (7" Single) (1992)
* For No One (1993)