Tracyanne & Danny in session at BBC Scotland on September 19, 2018 for Roddy Hart’s Quay Sessions.
With the sad news that singer-songwriter Danny Coughlan passed on January 26th, it was heartbreaking for many that this talented and essential artist was gone. In a year that’s barely just started, hearing word of yet another passing by someone so young and so talented has been sobering and palpable.
I ran across this article from Stereo Embers, written by Alex Green that sums up perfectly the sentiments of what losing an artist like Danny Coughlan has meant to so many:
“Singer/songwriter Danny Coughlan has died.
The cause of death has not been revealed, but the Bristol-based musician was said to be surrounded by his friends and family at the time of his passing.
Based in London in the late oughts, Coughlan performed under the moniker Crybaby and his 2012 Helium Records debut garnered this review from the Guardian: “Danny Coughlan as Crybaby is an astonishingly fully formed version of the artist he obviously set out to be. He is so successful at being the heartbroken crooner of his childhood dreams, the one in thrall to the music of the era between the twin reigns of Elvis and the Beatles, to the twisted productions of Phil Spector and Joe Meek to early soul, the stoic balladry of Roy Orbison and the notion of doomed romance, that it almost obviates comment, let alone critique. He is so precisely the sum of his obsessions we are almost rendered speechless.”
Coughlan’s music brought to mind everyone from Morrissey to Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout; his phrasing was elegant and wise and his melodies sonorous and unreasonably catchy.
Coughlan joined forces with Tracyanne of Camera Obscura as the duo Tracyanne & Danny and their winning 2018 album was put out by Merge and co-produced by Edwyn Collins.
On Coughlan’s passing, Merge posted: “We are deeply saddened by the news that Danny Coughlan of Tracyanne & Danny passed away peacefully yesterday. We were lucky to work with Danny on 2018’s Tracyanne & Danny and send our condolences to Tracyanne and his band, his family and his friends.”
Helium Records added: “We are heartbroken to share the news that Danny Coughlan (aka. Crybaby) died peacefully yesterday afternoon surrounded by members of his family. It has been a huge privilege to work with him over the years and an honour to have him as a great friend. He was a unique, brilliant talent and an incredible human being. He is going to be very sadly missed. Deep condolences to Louise and all his lovey family. With much love Chris, Carole, Mark and all at Helium Records.”
As a reminder, here is that session from Roddy Hart’s Quay Sessions from September 2018 for BBC Radio Scotland.
Thanks to Stereo Embers and Alex Green for the tribute and special thanks to Mig Schillace for telling me in the first place.
