Celebrated Cork band Cypress, Mine! open 2026 with the announcement of their long-awaited new album
‘pulling all the clouds apart’. Set for release on February 13 2026, ‘pulling all the clouds apart’ sees the band return
more mature, wiser and with plenty to say. Accompanying the release of the album, Cypress, Mine! will bring
longtime and new fans together to celebrate a tour of Ireland that includes dates in Kerry, Cork and Dublin.
The 38-year gap from the recording of the band’s 1987’s debut Exit Trashtown has meant that the song-writing
on this new album has changed significantly. The lyrics are now more seasoned and developed. Influences
these days vary from obscure American alt-folk to German electronic music. Thematically, the album touches
on the themes of strong women, struggles of physical/mental pain and societal issues such as coercive control,
intimidation and violence. Of course, the odd love song is featured such as ‘Safe Highway’ (based on a poem by
Seán Ó Tuama written in 1997) and ‘Smithereen’ (a love song with a few twists and turns). The album also has
room for two not-so-straightforward stories or tales (‘California Céilí Band’ and ‘Angler’).
This new album is a bookending in music history itself. The band’s debut album Exit Trashtown was the first Indie
album recorded in Cork (in Elmtree Studios in 1987). Meanwhile, ‘pulling all the clouds apart’ was the last album
to be recorded in the famous Pat Colliers’ famous Perry Vale Studios in London. The album was recorded and
mixed by Pat’s longtime collaborator, Jessica Corcoran (Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Senseless Things, Power Of
Dreams, Shed Seven, Boy George, That Petrol Emotion, Maximo Park, Robyn Hitchcock, All About Eve, Mega City 4,
and many more). Pat recorded/produced many bands including The Wonder Stuff, The House of Love, The Jesus
and Mary Chain, and Katrina and the Waves.
Speaking about the new album Singer Ciarán says ‘It has taken us quite a while to record that difficult second
album! Yes, 38 years to be exact. Actually, the only difficult part of the process has been getting us all in the
same room at the same time as we all live in different parts of the world. We couldn’t have done this remotely as
it does not suit our music. I must say that it was great to work in the same studio that has been home to so
many music legends and also work with Jessica whose recording wizardry brought the songs to another level.
We can’t wait for people to hear the songs on vinyl and at our shows.’
The front cover of the album features a picture of Madden’s Buildings, Blackpool, Cork in 1980’s. Other pictures
featured on the sleeves are Monica’s Sewing Shop, Blackpool, Cork; Twilight on Cruach Mhárthain, Dingle, Kerry
and Looking towards Ceann Sibéal, Dingle, Kerry. All these photographs were taken by Ciarán when he was in his
teens.
The new album ‘pulling all the clouds apart’ will be exclusively available as a self released 180gm vinyl album,
pressed by Kildare-based company Anthem Vinyl. You can purchase the album in all good record shops and
online here. It will also be available on Bandcamp, Spotify, and other digital platforms.
Cypress, Mine! were formed in 1984 with Ian Olney (guitar), Ciarán Ó Tuama (vocals), Mark Healy (drums) and
Denis O’Mullane (bass). The current iteration of Cypress, Mine! features Mark Healy on bass while Morty McCarthy
of The Sultans of Ping takes over drumming duties.
Influenced in the early days by Orange Juice, The Smiths, REM, and Hüsker Dü they performed alongside U2, Echo
and the Bunnymen, and Aztec Camera before disbanding in 1989. Their 1987 debut ‘Exit Trashtown’ received
critical acclaim, producing national radio favourites ‘Justine’ and ‘Sugar Beet God’. After the breakup Ian Olney
went on to join Dublin rock band Power of Dreams. A subsequent successful re-issue in 2017 of ‘Exit Trashtown’ on
Spanish label Pretty Olivia Records re-ignited an interest in Cypress, Mine!
