I was thrilled to learn recently that Factory Benelux are to give four late period Section 25 albums their first vinyl release. The Blackpool bands post-punk Factory Records origins and later Bernard Sumner produced electro triumphs have been well documented in recent years, and it is now time for their later work to receive the attention it so richly deserves.
This often overlooked period in the bands history swings between triumph and absolute tragedy, resulting in some of the most beautiful and challenging music of their career so far. Here I take a brief look at each of the albums in question, in an effort to shine further light on this most special of bands.
Part-Primitiv (2007)
After the gradual dissolution of the original Section 25 line up in the late eighties, 2001 saw brothers Vincent and Larry Cassidy reconvene with Jenny Ross to work on demos in preparation for a possible new album. These plans were rocked by the tragic passing of vocalist/keyboardist Ross in 2004, and it would be another three years until the band were ready to step back into the fray with Part-Primitiv.
An up-front, raw post-punk album at its heart, Part-Primitiv is an uncompromising, cathartic work of art. Tracks like Cry and Can’t Let Go see Larry Cassidy seemingly dealing first hand with the loss of his former partner in both music and life, whilst the inclusion of two of Jenny’s own demo recordings adds real beauty and another layer of heavy emotion to the album.
Nature + Degree (2009)
Nature + Degree saw the Cassidy brothers joined by Stuart Hill and Steve Stringer for what was a far more electronic affair than its predecessor. The need for a female vocalist to complement this change of direction lead to the band reaching out to Larry and Jenny’s daughter Bethany, who stepped up bravely to the task. Her voice and spirit brings the album to life, and is the perfect counterpoint to her Father’s beautifully weathered ruminations.
Highlights include the pure electro-pop of Remembrance, the driving kosmische of Garageland, and my personal favourite Mirror, where Beth reinvents a long lost Section 25 original and brings it slap bang into the 21st century.
Retrofit (2010)
Carrying on the trend of reinventing the bands history, Retrofit saw the band reimagine nine Section 25 classics, with Beth and Larry sharing vocals. In these new arrangements Looking From A Hilltop shimmers with new pulse and purpose, Beating Heart re-emerges as a beautifully fractured pop gem, whilst Girls Don’t Count marries the contrasting vocal styles perfectly, with the devastatingly powerful push-pull that results possibly serving as the highlight of the entire set.
Towards the end of the recording sessions for this album, the band were rocked by the sudden loss of Larry Cassidy. Despite this latest tragedy to befall them, the decision was made to continue, and the inclusion of solitary new track Überhymn hinted at a future yet to be written.
Dark Light (2013)
After the release of the sparkling Invicta EP in 2011 which included the perfect pop of Colour, Movement, Sex & Violence, the band pulled together to record Dark Light, a full bodied, wondrous electro-pop joy. This album saw the band joined by new family addition Jo Cassidy and producer Outernationale, and holds up as one of Section 25’s very finest albums.
My Outrage speaks of finding the purest joy in the smallest moments, Pitch Black Box’s twitching techno pulse deals with the darker side of internet connection and our online worlds, whilst the heart-achingly poignant Early Exit still has the power to make me cry ten years on from its original release. This album stands tall as a triumph over the toughest, cruelest of adversities and is a testament to the enduring power Section 25 possess.
As of summer 2023, the band are working on a new album as a duo of Vin Cassidy and Steve Stringer, whilst Bethany Cassidy is now a part of vital new Manchester based electro-indie act Sea Fever. I truly hope that the wonderful work Factory Benelux are doing with the reissue of these four albums will help further spread the word about the rare, beautiful magic of Section 25.
‘How can we be found, if we never get lost?’
MORE INFO/PURCHASE LINKS:
https://news.factorybenelux.com/2023/07/section-25-4x-vinyl-albums.html?m=
https://burningshed.com/artists/section-25_artists
FULL SECTION 25 BIO (recommended:)
heavymetalkids.uk 