Into Paradise - Into Paradise

Into Paradise was a Dublin-based post-punk/indie band (1986–1993) known for moody, guitar-driven, and melancholic music that often drew comparisons to Echo & the Bunnymen and The Sound. Led by singer/guitarist David Long, they released albums like Under the Water and Churchtown, which are often considered overlooked early-90s gems. Lucky for this brooding, gentle Dublin group, singer/guitarist David Long has one of those spot-on whines that manages to add the sense of emotional fragility — heft even — his clichéd words don’t necessarily deserve. The tunes themselves are a different, and often glorious, story. Produced by Adrian Borland (of the late, great Sound), Under the Water (released in the US as Into Paradise, with a few tracks replaced) is slow-moving, simple, guitar-driven post-punk with faint echoes of Echo and the Bunnymen (a connection made explicit on “Red Light”). Pretty — not to mention pretty depressing — melodies (“The Pleasure Is Over,” “Going Home”) more than compensate for Long’s earnestly dreary and angsty lyrics, which occasionally sink into dreaded fire-and-desire couplets. But the worst offense is the fact that drummer Ronan Clarke’s name is misspelled on the US edition’s booklet. Tough break.

Ripped from the 1990 CD release to MP3 @ 320kbps

Into Paradise; Into Paradise

1.      Bring Me Closer

2.      Red Light

3.      The Circus Came To Town

4.      Change

5.      The Pleasure Is Over

6.      Hearts And Flowers

7.      Heaven

8.      Under The Water

9.      The World Won’t Stop

10.   Say Goodnight

11.   Going Home

12.   Bring Me Closer #1