Section 25

What do you all think of Section 25? What are their best songs? Any trivia or stories about them?

Section 25 formed in 1978 by Vinni and Larry Cassidy (David had emigrated to the States a few years earlier and became a huge teen idol in the process, but that's another story), and were basically an on-off bunch of experimentalists whose first records were mostly semi-improvised in the Can, early PIL, Gang of Four type mould. Decidedly dark-sounding and gloomy, they obviously fitted the "Post-Industrial" overcoat Manchester sound of the late 70s early 80s. And being on Factory meant they suffered the usual lazy Joy Division comparisons.

First two albums "Always Now" (1981) and "The Key Of Dreams" (1982) were hit and miss affairs but it wasn't until 1983/84 when they started finding their creative muscle - "Dirty Disco" (from "Always Now") was reworked into a dancier track which borrowed heavily from PIL's classic "Metal Box" album, and from that point onwards they became more and more electronically orientated.

1984's album "From The Hip" broke them into the US Electro scene and the two singles that came from this era, "Looking From A Hilltop" and "Crazy Wisdom" remain the bands most accessible and successful tracks: "Hilltop" was even remixed by Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio) and Bernard Sumner of New Order to become a massive club hit on both sides of the Atlantic. if you want the best record to represent Section 25's development in the electronic field, get this album.

After this watershed it all went a bit quiet for the band, as - bar live releases and the odd one-off promo remix - their follow up album didn't emerge until some three and a half years later: 1988's Love & Hate which took the electronic sound of "From The Hip" a little further and featured one track "Bad News Week" that was remixed once again by Bernard Sumner on release as a single. The delay to that album exacerbated by Factory's usual lackadaisical policy with their roster meant the band effectively called it a day after this album. But there are signs that they are still working on new material to be released later this year. With Section 25, they are, as ever, their own law, so who knows about what will happen?

N.B. At this moment all the Section 25 back catalogue has been reissued again on CD through Les Temps Modernes. All formats feature extra tracks, remixes and live takes. Well worth seeking out if you have any interest in the band, but of course I recommend "From The Hip". Click here for the link to their website:

http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/ltmhome.html

www.section25.com has new mp3's they did