Power of Dreams

Power of Dreams are a Dublin, Ireland based pop/rock band, built around the vocals and songwriting of Craig Walker.

Career

Power of Dreams released their critically acclaimed debut EP "A Little Piece of God" on Keith Cullen's London-based Setanta Records in 1989, while Craig Walker was still at school.^[1] Following a six-figure bidding war between rival record labels, the band signed a deal with Polydor Records. In December 1989, the British music magazine NME picked Power of Dreams, along with others such as Carter USM and The Charlatans, as their 'stars of tomorrow'.^[2]

Their debut album, Immigrants, Emigrants and Me was released in 1990, receiving glowing reviews worldwide. The album was produced by Ray Shulman and sold well in France, Japan, the UK and Ireland. The band then embarked on a world tour as a supporting act for The Mission, taking in more than 30 countries, including Japan and North America.^[3] The follow-up album, 2 Hell With Common Sense, was released two years later, produced by Dave Meegan and featuring a more powerful sound, helped by additional guitarist Ian Olney^[4] (ex-Cypress, Mine!).^[5][6]

Later albums were less successful in the UK/Ireland but the band retained a following – and their major label contract – in Japan. Third album Positivity was released on Lemon Records in 1993, and further developed the sound introduced on their previous record. Power of Dreams then released their last album Become Yourself the following year. In 1995 the band backed and recorded with musician Soichi Taniguchi in Japan before disbanding.

Following the split Craig Walker and Ian Olney formed Pharmacy with Chris Pierce, and Morty McCarthy from The Sultans of Ping FC. Pharmacy released one single called "Shine" in 1998.^[7] Subsequently, Craig Walker recorded three albums with Archive before releasing his debut album, Siamese,^[8] in 2009. Ian Olney formed and performed in a number of bands including Temperance Union, Miracle Retreat, Deer Park and Red Atlas, and has been playing bass for Sultans of Ping since 2005. Keith Walker went on to front Paranoid Saints, The Ex-Kings and The Bollox.

In November 2009, Power of Dreams announced a reformation and tour to promote the 20th anniversary re-release of their first album (on 100% Music)^[9] in March 2010.^[10][11] In December 2010, a further tour of Ireland took place with Sultans of Ping and The Frank and Walters to support the release of a compilation album, 1989: The Best of Power of Dreams, which included a new track.^[12] Power of Dreams played their most recent gig as part of "Indie Daze" at London's Forum in September 2014.

In March 2011, Keith Walker announced an amicable departure from the band, and has gone on to play with Sister Cities, Being Cool Is Lonely and The Holy Coast. Ian Olney plays with new band Cat Meat. Craig Walker has continued to perform as Power of Dreams and work on new material alongside his new project, Paris-based Mineral.^[13] In 2014, The Avener had a chart-topping hit single in several European countries with "Fade Out Lines", a remix of a song written by Craig Walker and Phoebe Killdeer (ex-Nouvelle Vague) for Phoebe Killdeer and the Short Straws' second album Innerquake, released in 2012.

In December 2011, Immigrants, Emigrants and Me was featured in the book 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die.^[14] In April 2013 the album was featured in the Irish Independent's top 30 albums of all time.^[15]

Discography

Albums

• Immigrants, Emigrants and Me (1990)
• American Dream (1991)^[16]
• 2 Hell with Common Sense (1992)
• Positivity (1993)^[17]
• Become Yourself (1994)^[18]
• Immigrants, Emigrants and Me – 20th Anniversary Double CD Remaster (2010)^[19] (#10 Ireland Charts)
• 1989: The Best Of Power Of Dreams (2010)^[20]

Singles

• "A Little Piece Of God" (1989)
• "100 Ways To Kill A Love" (1990) (#20 Ireland Charts)
• "The Joke's On Me" (1990)
• "Never Been To Texas" (1990)
• "Stay" (1990)
• "American Dream" (1991) (#22 Ireland Charts, #74 UK)
• "There I Go Again" (1992) (#21 Ireland Charts, No. 65 UK)^[21]
• "Slowdown" (1992) (#22 Ireland Charts)
• "Second Son EP" (1992)
• "Cathy's World" (1993)

References

External links

• Power of Dreams Website
• Power of Dreams on MySpace
• Power of Dreams entry in Irish Punk & New Wave Discography
• April 2009 interview
• March 2010 interview