Richard Murphy is explaining why he’s called his band after an ‘80s icon. To be more accurate, he is trying to explain why he called his band after an ‘80s icon. And, honestly, he’s not entirely sure.
Murphy is a fan of “bad ‘80s TV”, but also likes the idea of a “nothing name”, which, he hopes, will eventually become synonymous with his group. This information is relayed in a long ramble, which, to my mind, underscores Murphy’s resemblance to Brian Wilson.
Like the former Beach Boy, Murphy (when in full flow) converses at speed. Frequently, he’ll career off on a tangent, before arriving at his chosen point.
Occasionally, he’ll even begin answering my questions before I’ve finished asking them. The impression given is of an individual functioning at a slightly faster level than those around him.
For the past four years, Murphy, from Limerick and based in Dublin, has performed and recorded as Michael Knight.
In 2003, he released a quirky home-recorded EP, No More Lonely Knights, on Villain Records (the label he co-runs with Ronan Hession of blues and folk 'outfit', Mumblin’ Deaf Ro).
Since then, he’s worked on his debut LP, Youth Is Wasted On The Young, which was recorded in 2004 and, after some delay, has just hit the shelves.
Why the wait? “Artwork problems,” he explains. “It took me ages to get the artwork together. It was kind of my fault. I was too busy worrying about the recording. I left the artwork until after we’d finished the record. Though, saying that we also re-recorded bits and pieces since, so we’ve used the time well.”
Quirky and idiosyncratic Youth Is Wasted On The Young is a singular debut. Full of harmonic vocals, swirling melodies and odd chord progressions, it’s a complex yet accessible pop record.
Expertly structured, it changes direction constantly. On songs such as ‘Leaving Town’ and ‘Success’, Murphy’s debt to Wilson and Burt Bacharach is evident. Elsewhere, the geek pop of ‘Waves To The Shore’ and ‘Seasons’ bring to mind Weezer and Belle and Sebastian.
“People always say Belle and Sebastian,” says Murphy, nonplussed. “I don’t get it. I’m not a huge fan of Belle and Sebastian. I’m just not pushed on them musically. I don’t dislike them, but the comparisons with Bacharach and The Beach Boys make more sense to me. I would have learned a lot from them, just in terms of using lots of different chords in the way I write, which they would have tended to do a lot."
Classical music is an influence too, he says. In many ways, he believes, classical compositions represent a higher art form. “Pop music tends to be a couple of pieces stuck together, where as in classical music there’s much more linkage and it’s not about the tunes you have, but what you do with them.”
Michael Knight is the work of a single songwriter. But Murphy insists the project is a full-fledged band, rather than a solo outfit (there are two other members including Medea's Edel Coffey). That said, he is the only constant member.
“There’s a danger if you’re seen as a solo artist that you end up getting portrayed as a singer-songwriter. And I hate most singer-songwriters. There are some exceptions of course to the bloke and his guitar thing, but I’m keen not to be seen as that, and it is music which can only be played by a band.”
More live appearances are planned between now and Christmas.
“We’ve done a few gigs which we’ve been pleased with recently,” says Murphy. “It’s just a case of getting out there. We’re not that well known yet, so I guess we have to rectify that.”