This December 31st/January 1st when some drunk at whatever New Year’s party you happen to be gatecrashing starts mumbling sweet nothins in your ear about how bloody awful the last twelve months were for music, do me a big favour and clout him. Believe me, there really was much that was truly wonderful out there to celebrate even if it now requires an extra effort to find it.

Album-wise, 1988 was notable for the appearance of three remarkable Irish debuts, those by Something Happens! A House and the Stars Of Heaven, while international spirits were raised by the likes of REM, The Dream Syndicate, The Church, Martin Stephenson & Co, The Smithereens, Prince, The Go-Betweens, The Wonderstuff, The Pixies, Public Enemy, The Godfathers, The Sugercubes, Siouxsie, Eric B & Rakim, T-Bone Burnett, Talking Heads, Prefab Sprout and many, many more. Activity on the live front was equally hectic. Blue In Heaven were up and down, astounding and frustrating on each alternate outing. Swim started on extremely slippery ground but ended the year on terra firma, while the many multi-band gigs – the Windmill Check It Out sessions and or own Hot Press/Radio 2 Carnival Rock in St. Patrick’s Park for example – provided ample opportunity to sample other local hot spots. Most welcome visitors were Aztec Camera, Martin Stephenson, Sinead O’Connor, John Hiatt, and only recently, Wilko Johnson and the amazing Joe Ely, collaborating for an explosive double spot down at The Session.

My tips for ’89? I’ve three. From Dublin, Swim, with the Hellfire Club hot on their tails, and from Derry via Belfast via London, Tie The Boy. All bets gladly taken.