In the beginning there will always be the beginning. The green light go after the anticipated red. Cross the intersection and move on. So is born 'Fathering', the first solo record from Mark Mulcahy. While he is not The Daddyor a priest or even a revolutionary, Mr. Mulcahy has given life to this sweet deep collection of ten. "I once had the idea of saving the world. Now I try and save myself just to prove it can be done."

Mulcahy was the lead singer of the band Miracle Legion. The bandreleased a string of amazing, influential and critically acclaimed albums. Then. M.L. signed a big one sided record deal and in a blink were crushed by the corporatesmush, and were held underwater for 2 years until the finally bubbled uncle. Miracle Legion released one more record on this Mezzotint Label, a hail mary into history. (stop)

In that mighty long 2 year pause, Mark stayed in the bedroom writing, practicing guitar, going alone at the music, forging a way to play, without all the assistance. Performing alone was a new unknown. Try it out in the bedroom, test the waters at shark infested open mikes., playing after the last band to an empty house. Finally, after some delicate pressure and friendly encouragement it was time for the first official solo show. (start)

Mr. Mulcahy's first solo night alone at The Fez in New York. The house was packed with a buzzy, cuddly optimism for the maiden voyage. Could the man go it alone or would it be Multanic. Hidencahy. Worry not, it was gorgeos. The voice of reason was still in season. A dream come true. That voice, ohhhh...sixty minutes of brand new heaven. The beginning was begun. The gigs began to mount up, playing with Mary Margret O'Hara and Vic Chestnutt, opening for Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith, Paula Cole, Oasis, and even Seal. A blizzard of shows, anywhere and everywhere until it was time to take the songs and make a record.

You know, this Fathering is very serious business. Very serious. What about these songs? What to do with these songs? There were plenty so now choose ten and put them on tape. Begin with 'Hey Self Defeater', a precious wafer thin anthem for the underencouraged, 'Bill Jocko', a psychotic speed opera, the twisting turning 'Tempted', beauty turned ugly, ugly turned tragic. Pure true love professions in 'Hurry Please Hurry' and 'Ciao My Shing Star', the record plays like a fixed flapper wheel at sunday church social. I love her, I love him, desperation, satisfaction all leading to the wide-eyed erotic innocence the last song 'Fathering'.

It all ends up here on daddy's big broad shoulders (start)

The facts surrounding this "Fathering' are these- all the songs are written, performed and sung by Mr. Mulcahy. The recording was done in the greateastern cities of Providence, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn and recorded with TBuck, Adam Lasus, and Spike. The dazzling cover and all the brilliant photographs inside come from Mr. Michael Ackerman. To call this a solo record is true, but the contributions of all concerned give it it's genius. No one stands alone when he shows himself to the world. This 'Fathering' will be the first of many records from this new man, this newborn man. Mark Mulcahy is the name on the door.

REVIEWS

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
#13-MARK MULCAHY, FATHERING
"With a voice equal parts Tim Buckley,John Martyn and Kevin Coyne, former Miracle Legion frontman Mulcahy is rivalled in the Nineties only by Jeff Buckley for soul-searching genius.He could sing about knitting and still make it sound as though hewas singing about extra-marital liasons and illicit,claustrophobic sex.But since he like to sing about extra-marital liasons and illicit,claustrophobic sex,there's never any confusion."

UNCUT 12/1999

The Year's Top 10-
#3 Mark Mulcahy:Fathering
"Harking back to the days when male singer-songwriters were true to their genitalia, Fathering(as in: lots of it) breathes,hoovers and runs its tongue over the erogenous zones with the tenderness of John Martyn's Solid Air and the unfettered throb of Tim Buckley's Greetings From L.A. Again and again,former Miracle Legion front man Mulcahy imparts his message-"I like sex.I will seduce you.So what?"-in a sensual overload disguised as an acoustic confession.The final choice is to cold shower or surrender."

The Guardian, 12/03/1999

Esquire Magazine Best of 99
Mark Mulcahy-Fathering No. 3

"Mulcahy not only plays all the instruments but overlays his own vocal harmonies and counterparts in a set of emotionally involving,highly personal songs.Don't let the fact that Radiohead love him or that he's opened for Oasis and Seal confuse the issue:this man is very much a singer songwriter to be filed along side Tim Buckley, Neil Young or Jackson Browne."

MOJO

"This rock-n-roll koala bear-same come-to-bed eyes,same don't mess-with-me claws-hasn't allowed over familiarity with the fuzzy end of rock's lollipop to dull his appreciation for the sensual world. Forbidden fruits are his specialty,the riper the better,and in that remarkable voice he has the instrument to skewer the lonliest hearts every time."

NME

"LOCK UP YOUR GIRLFRIENDS!"

Tom Cox

"He's a genius,' reckons Thom Yorke,and Fathering makes a good case for the Radiohead frontman being right."

Jewish Chronicle

"This year's solo debut,Fathering evinced a delicious return to the fragile, intimate balladry that marked Miracle Legion's classic 'Me & Mr. Ray.'

Time Out

MARK MULCAHY
Fathering
Ryko / Rough Trade

Der Sänger und seine geschundene Seele. In den 80er Jahren war Mark Mulcahy Frontmann der Gitarrenbeat-Combo Miracle Legion, die nie den Durchbruch schaffte. Nach dem Split der Band führte er ein zurückgezogenes Dasein, das er nur ab und an für Solo-Konzerte in New Yorker Clubs unterbrach. Von dieser inneren Emigration zeugen auch die sparsamst instrumentierten, leicht spröden Songs seines Solodebuts, das wohl nur deshalb das Licht der Öffentlichkeit erblickte, weil er prominente Fürsprecher fand. Etwa Thom Yorke von Radiohead, der Mulcahys Stimme mit Tim Buckley vergleicht. Eine Parallele, die nicht ganz abwegig ist, denn wie Buckley kann auch Mulcahy mit seinem Organ Glas zerschneiden und Emotionen schonungslos offenlegen. Und davon macht er auf "Fathering" reichlich Gebrauch!
Volkard Steinbach