Loko return with new album after 14 year absence
After a 14 year hiatus, Irish indie outfit Loko Parentis have released a new compilation album, fronted as always by Cork native Paul O’Mahony.
The new album ‘Dream Longer Than You Sleep’ is comprised of tracks from the Dublin-based group’s first two albums ‘The Other Side Of Fear’, and ‘Dream Revolution’ from 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The album release coincides with the launch of a video for catchy lead track ‘How Are You, Human?’. The video, plus two previously released videos, are available to stream on lokoparentis.bandcamp.com.
The album cover, designed by Peter Queally, features professional footballer and occasional Hot Press magazine blogger, Emma Starr, in what is said to be the first album cover featuring a professional female footballer. Starr, from Philadelphia, USA, was a Women’s National League and Cup double-winner with Dublin’s Shelbourne FC in season 2022. She now plays in Australia and scored the winning goal in the Grand Final there in October 2023 and was selected in the Team of the Year in November 2023.
The album is best described as a scintillating blast of guitars-with-attitude, laden with hooks and choruses till the cows come home, with band members citing influences like Television, Magazine, Sonic Youth, Mott the Hoople, Sex Pistols, and The Clash.
Loko Parentis began as a studio project in Cork back in 1981 and featured members of legendary Leeside punk pioneers Nun Attax and Berserk. The track, ‘How Are You, Human?’, is a re-recording of a tune from their original two-track demo tape. Loko Parentis was founded by Cork rocker Paul O’Mahony, ex-Berserk, who has remained its driving force ever since the original '80s demo, which garnered considerable national and local airplay at the time.
An amended line-up played the Oxygen Festival in 2007 (Pet Sounds stage, opening for acts like Sinead O’Connor and Brian Wilson). The Loko Parentis line-up on the new compilation album and videos features Paul O’Mahony with ex-members of The Gurriers, Las Vegas Basement, The Cherries, Estel, and The Evil Kneivals.