The Immediate

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The Immediate were an experimental Irish rock band from Malahide, near Dublin, active from 2003 to 2007. They released one album, In Towers and Clouds (2006), along with several EPs and singles. Known for swapping instruments on stage and adding an electronic edge when Barra Heavey joined, they built a distinctive live sound.

Final members were David Hedderman (vocals/guitar/bass), Conor O’Brien (vocals/guitar/drums), Peter Toomey (vocals/drums/bass), and Barra Heavey (keys/guitar/bass/drums). The group began as The Subterraneans in Dublin during their college years. They named themselves after the word “immediate” and played in various venues from hotel function rooms to churches, later expanding to parties and clubs. They released the Don’t Get Lost EP in 2003 and, after catching the attention of London labels, released the debut single “Never Seen/Say This” in 2005. They chose to keep creative control and eventually signed with Fantastic Plastic Records.

The band recorded their debut album at Jacobs Studios in Surrey with producer Chris Shaw. They released the Make Our Devils FLOW EP in April 2006, followed by In Towers and Clouds in August 2006 in Ireland and September 2006 in the UK. The album received strong critical praise and was nominated for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2006, with appearances at the prize ceremony and the Meteor Awards in 2007. They had also headlined RTÉ 2fm’s 2moro 2our in 2006.

Plans for a second album emerged, but on May 11, 2007, they announced their split due to “existential differences,” though they remained on good terms. They had been scheduled to perform at Oxegen 2007. A final track, The Mist Above the Mind, was released as a free download for fans. After the breakup, O’Brien joined Cathy Davey and later formed Villagers; Heavey later explained the reasons for the split in November 2007.

Critics noted their blend of art rock, post-punk, and kraut-influenced sounds, and many saw them as a promising Irish act with international potential. The Sunday Tribune named The Immediate Best Irish Band of 2006.