Power of Dreams (band)

Power of Dreams released their critically acclaimed first EP A Little Piece of God,{{cite news |last1=Heaney |first1=Mick |title=Twenty years ago, Craig Walker and his band Power of Dreams were the next big thing. Today, as he releases a solo album and re-forms his group, he's happy just to be a rock'n'roll survivor |work=The Sunday Times |date=17 January 2010 |page=24|issn=0956-1382}} on Keith Cullen's London-based Setanta Records in 1989, while Walker was still at school.{{cite web|url=http://www.state.ie/9199-archive/power-of-dreams |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910131643/http://www.state.ie/9199-archive/power-of-dreams |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=Power of Dreams interview |publisher= |website=State |date= |accessdate=23 April 2012}} 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".{{cite book

| first= John

| last= Tobler

| year= 1992

| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years

| edition= 1st

| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd

| location= London

| page= 463

| id= CN 5585}}

Their first album, Immigrants, Emigrants and Me, was released in 1990, receiving glowing reviews worldwide.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} 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.{{cite book|last1=Roach|first1=Martin|last2=Perry|first2=Neil|title=Names are for tombstones, baby|date=1993|publisher=Independent Music Press|location=London|isbn=1-897-78301-9|page=218}} The follow-up album, 2 Hell With Common Sense, was released two years later, produced by Dave Meegan and with a more powerful sound, aided by additional guitarist Ian Olney (ex-Cypress, Mine!).{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40232951.html|title = Cork's Greatest Records: Cypress Mine's Exit Trashtown and its early DIY attitude|date = 25 February 2021}}

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

Following the split, Walker and Olney formed Pharmacy with Chris Pierce, and Morty McCarthy from the Sultans of Ping FC. Pharmacy released one single called "Shine" in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Pharmacy-Shine/release/421474 |title=Pharmacy (2) - Shine (CD) |website=Discogs |date= 10 October 1998|accessdate=14 March 2016}} Subsequently, Walker recorded three albums with Archive before releasing his first solo album, Siamese,{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Craig-Walker-Siamese/master/510017 |title=Craig Walker - Siamese |website=Discogs|date= |accessdate=14 March 2016}} in 2009. Olney formed and performed in a number of bands including Temperance Union, Miracle Retreat, Deer Park and Red Atlas, and has been playing bass guitar for Sultans of Ping since 2005. 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){{cite web|last=Mathews |first=Kevin |url=http://www.powerofpop.com/power-of-dreams/ |title=Power Of Dreams |publisher= |website=Power Of Pop |date=21 April 2010 |accessdate=14 March 2016}} in March 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.mudkiss.com/powertour.htm |title=powertour - MUDKISS FANZINE |website=Mudkiss |date= |accessdate=14 March 2016}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.thefinalword.co.uk/content/view/897/34/ |title=POWER OF DREAMS - London Luminaire 05 March, Guildford Boilerhouse 07 March 2010 |publisher= |website=The Final Word |date=11 March 2010 |accessdate=14 March 2016}} 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.{{cite web|author=John Meagher |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music-1989-the-best-of-power-of-dreams-by-power-of-dreams-26605250.html |title=Music: 1989 - The best of Power of Dreams by Power of Dreams|website=Independent (Ireland) |date= 10 December 2010|accessdate=14 March 2016}} Power of Dreams' most recent gig was 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,{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/sister-cities-goes-global-to-craft-its-american-indie-rock-6449765|title = Sister Cities Goes Global to Craft Its American Indie Rock}} Being Cool Is Lonely and The Holy Coast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-holy-coast-debuts-earnest-glitch-folk-single-6586383|title = The Holy Coast Debuts Earnest Glitch Folk Single}} Olney plays with a new band, Cat Meat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadsheet.ie/2017/05/10/you-may-like-this-cat-meat/|title = You May Like This: Cat Meat|date = 10 May 2017}} Walker continued to perform as Power of Dreams and to work on new material alongside his new project, Mineral, based in Paris.{{cite web|url=http://powerofdreams.ie/index.html |title=Power of Dreams official website |publisher=Power of Dreams |date= |accessdate=13 December 2013}} 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 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 appeared in the book 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite web|url=http://www.libertiespress.com/101_Irish_Records_(You_Must_Hear_Before_You_Die)/118/ |title=101 Irish Records (You Must Hear Before You Die) |author=Tony Clayton-Lea |publisher=Liberties Press |date=2011 |accessdate=23 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228145344/http://www.libertiespress.com/101_Irish_Records_%28You_Must_Hear_Before_You_Die%29/118 |archivedate=28 December 2011 }} In April 2013, the album was in the Irish Independent's top 30 albums of all time.{{cite web|url=http://dayandnightmag.ie/in-this-weeks-day-night-john-meaghers-top-30-irish-albums-of-all-time/|title=In This Week's Day & Night – John Meagher's Top 30 Irish albums of all-time |accessdate=13 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213172734/http://dayandnightmag.ie/in-this-weeks-day-night-john-meaghers-top-30-irish-albums-of-all-time/ |archivedate=13 December 2013 }}

In 2020, Power of Dreams released two new singles, "America"/"Across the Shannon",{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2020/0627/1150022-behind-the-music-craig-walker-power-of-dreams/|title = Behind the music: Craig Walker, Power of Dreams|website = RTÉ.ie|date = 4 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.echo.ie/show/article/power-of-dreams-releasing-new-album-auslaender-later-this-year|title = Power of Dreams: Releasing new album auslÄnder later this year|date = 12 August 2020}} and "Hurricane",{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/power-of-dreams-to-share-new-single-hurricane-this-week-22828326|title = Power of Dreams to share new single 'Hurricane' this week}} to promote forthcoming album Ausländer.

In July 2021, Ausländer, their first album in 27 years was released by The state51 Conspiracy and became a new entry on the Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50 when it charted at Number 22 on the chart of 5 August 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/dave-beats-the-saw-doctors-to-number-1-on-the-official-irish-albums-chart-with-were-all-alone-in-this-together__33685/|title = Dave beats the Saw Doctors to Number 1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart|website = Official Charts}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/|title=Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company|website=Official Charts}}

In 2022 Walker received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards for "Drop the Rock", a song he cowrote with Nicolas Errèra for the 2021 film Goodbye Happiness (Au revoir le bonheur).Brent Furdyk, [https://web.archive.org/web/20220215130202/https://etcanada.com/news/867531/2022-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-announced/ "2022 Canadian Screen Award Nominees Announced, ‘Sort Of’ & ‘Scarborough’ Lead The Pack"]. ET Canada, February 15, 2022.

• Immigrants, Emigrants and Me (1990)
• American Dream (1991){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Power-Of-Dreams-American-Dream/release/422908 |title=Power Of Dreams - American Dream (CD) |website=Discogs |date=10 February 1991 |accessdate=14 March 2016}}
• 2 Hell with Common Sense (1992)
• Positivity (1993){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Power-Of-Dreams-Positivity/master/32612 |title=Power Of Dreams - Positivity |website=Discogs |date= 10 October 1993|accessdate=14 March 2016}}
• Become Yourself (1994){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Power-Of-Dreams-Become-Yourself/release/424612 |title=Power Of Dreams - Become Yourself (CD, Album) |website=Discogs|date= 10 October 1994|accessdate=14 March 2016}}
• Immigrants, Emigrants and Me – 20th Anniversary Double CD Remaster (2010){{cite web |url=http://www.state.ie/album-reviews/power-of-dreams-immigrants-emigrants-and-me |title=Power of Dreams – Immigrants, Emigrants and Me |website=State |date=8 March 2010 |accessdate=14 March 2016 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315001817/http://state.ie/album-reviews/power-of-dreams-immigrants-emigrants-and-me |url-status=dead }} (#10 Ireland Charts)
• 1989: The Best Of Power Of Dreams (2010){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Power-Of-Dreams-1989-The-Best-Of/release/4444074 |title=Power Of Dreams - 1989 - The Best Of (CD) |website=Discogs |date= |accessdate=14 March 2016}}
• Ausländer (2021) (#22 Ireland Charts)

• "A Little Piece Of God" (1989)
• "100 Ways To Kill A Love" (1990) (#20 Ireland Charts, #94 UK)
• "The Joke's On Me" (1990) (Irish only release, withdrawn on day of release)
• "Never Been To Texas" (1990) (#87 UK)
• "Stay" (1990)
• "American Dream" (1991) (#22 Ireland Charts, #74 UK)
• "Slowdown" (1992) (#22 Ireland Charts)
• "There I Go Again" (1992) (#21 Ireland Charts, #65 UK){{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 433}}

• "Second Son EP" (1992)
• "Cathy's World" (1993)
• "1989" (2010)
• "America/Across The Shannon" (2020)
• "Hurricane" (2020)
• "Do it" (2021)

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.powerofdreams.ie Power of Dreams website]
• [https://entertainment.ie/music/10-questions-with-craig-walker-power-of-dreams-488242/ 2021 interview]
• [http://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/powerod.html Power of Dreams entry in Irish Punk & New Wave Discography]
• [http://www.state.ie/9199-archive/power-of-dreams April 2009 interview]
• [http://www.cluas.com/indie-music/Interviews/tabid/106/EntryId/1338/Power-of-Dreams.aspx March 2010 interview]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Irish indie rock groups

Category:Musical groups from Dublin (city)

Category:Musical groups established in 1988

Category:1988 establishments in Ireland