Section 25 - Always Now (1981)

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn306/Floridian_20/AlwaysNow.jpg

One of the DJ's at the post punk festival I attended in L.A. yesterday played the song "New Horizon" and I know this album gets a real bad rap, but I suddenly heard that song as if I'd never heard it before. And the reality is, of course, I've heard it several times, but I heard something in it today I'd never heard it before. Martin Hannett RIP.

I still don't know what to make of this as an album. At first I found it difficult, then I'd pull it out and enjoy it after some years. Then I'd decide it wasn't very good. Then a few years later, I'd pull it out again, etc. Same cycle every time.

why does this album get a bad rap? it's awesome.

do you have the vinyl? ya gotta have the vinyl. fact. vinyl rules. you need that bass in yer face. heck, i think i'll play it right now. i think it's actually my favorite section 25 album.

this is a real good album. i like the key of dreams more, but it's still really good.

it's all dark and shit.

"Dirty Disco" is some zombie-like dance rock that's yet to be properly aped well (although Ministry and Revolting Cocks have tried and failed repeatedly)

Dirty Disco rules

i like the key of dreams more, but it's still really good.

it's all dark and shit.

This is completely and totally OTM.

Nope, don't have the vinyl, either. *snap* Never did have the vinyl, but I do recall the beautiful work of art the "matchbook" sleeve was with the gorgeous marbled inside because the college radio station I DJ'd at did have it.

Heads up -- new and absolutely beautifully packaged (replicating the original vinyl release) two disc edition on Factory Benelux. First disc is the CD version from a while back, second contains live tracks, a Peel session, etc.

http://www.factorybenelux.com/always_now_fbn3_045cd.html

I need more postpunk with a heavy emphasis on the post.

Ned wasn't kidding, those Factory Benelux reissues are great! and cheap too even for a yankee like me. got one from Darla and two others new from someone else. for almost nothing. they SOUND awesome. people thinking about reissuing old stuff on CD should really listen to them. because. that. is. how. it's. done.

they just need to do the key of dreams and everything will be perfect.

(i felt like i was getting too old to track down every stray vinyl 7-inch and 12-inch and looked these up and i'm really glad i did.)

it's kind of startling to me, listening to Always Now, for the first time, how it's the other thing The Rapture was ripping off besides Gang of Four. "Knew Noise" comes to mind, but lots of others as well

i suppose PiL is the other obvious reference point, and maybe section 25 is just a substandard PiL, listen, i dunno

I really like this record, but the way Larry's vocals can often be about half a semitone flat on certain tracks has always made this a much tougher listen than it really should be.

So I did a little experiment and broke apart 'Friendly Fires' and brought his performance more into the note centres, I didn't do a lot of tweaking, didn't flatten out any wayward vibrato or anything, just enough to keep the integrity but pull him more in tune.

Don't @ me if you're a diehard, (although I'm sure nobody will really care lol) but here is a link if anyone would like to hear it.

https://we.tl/t-yc2D7euFio

Love this album to bits

"i suppose PiL is the other obvious reference point, and maybe section 25 is just a substandard PiL, listen, i dunno"

That was apparently a criticism at the time.

"On the the vexed PiL question, Factory director Tony Wilson was quick to jump to their defence in March 1980, after the editors of City Fun declared that SXXV, Ratio and Joy Division all sounded far too similar. "Section 25, for starters, are nothing like ACR or the JDs. If they have any similarity problems it is with Public Image and Public Image alone. The b-side of their new single is unfortunately reminiscent of certain aspects of Metal Box; unfortunate for them since it was recorded at Cargo Rochdale in September '79, and Metal Box was (released) in November '79. A more melodic vocal pattern, and a different approach to the guitar drone overdubs between Levine and Section 25 nevertheless allow Section 25 ample creativity space in which to work. They remain more original than 99 per cent of other bands (100 per cent of other London bands), and certainly they don't sound anything like the two to which they are belied by false compare."

If nothing else it's nice to know that Tony Wilson was willing to stick up for his bands. He didn't just help them financially (by spending most of their royalties, thus relieving them of having to pay a lot of tax).