Section XXV – Move On

Label: Nine x Nine Records
Cat No.: NXN027LP
Format: Vinyl – Marbled Yellow/Mauve Limited Edition
Matrix/Stampers: NXN027LP A POU-33 G7LDA, NXN027LP B 1 POU-33 G7LDA

Philosophical and existential musings from an enduring canon

First things first, this is an impressive artifact. Design and packaging in keeping with Section 25’s aesthetic legacy dating back to Peter Saville’s iconic cover for debut album Always Now. The limited edition heavyweight vinyl Purple/Yellow marble disc is a beauty to behold. Pressing wise it plays flawlessly without any discernable clicks or pops. The album comes with an A4 170gms Silk Art print. One side has a photo of the various notes and scribblings for the album lyrics whilst the reverse has 3 peices by each band member. Transitional band member Paul Wiggin’s piece entitled Fuzz Pedals and Buddhism, Steve Stringer’s random notes including a farewell to hart’s Amusements! and Vincent Cassidy’s state of play regarding all things Section 25.

Interestingly, the album consists of broadly a 50% split between new material and older pieces that were left on the shelf for whatever reason. To this end Larry Cassidy is credited is writer on half the tracks. This is a nice touch and certainly doesn’t detract from the overall way the songs fit together as a cohesive whole.

Down to a two piece but with contributions from long standing guitarist Paul Wiggin, Vin has assume vocal responsibility and as the album kicks off with the storming Move On, he sounds comfortable and confident taking on the responsibility. Move On (the track) has the driving electronic, sequencer infused sound that Section 25 made theie own in the 80’s wearing Kraftwerk influences on their sleeve. Human Puppets the first err new/old track continues the theme of taking stock. We are what we are so let’s get on with it. Kevin Hewick in his notes for the album Jams From The Bardo, summed up Section 25 perfectly when he wrote “Section 25 were creating something, their own something, because they just had to….Nobody flinched at good or bad things or good or bad audiences, or any acclaim or lack of it”. And that in a nutshell is the essence of Section 25, a band that seems to grow in stature with every release.

On Gun For Hire. Vin’s voice really comes into it’s own. A driving New Orderesque piece with a smattering of understated guitar and yet this is followed by Form Is Void which takes a completely different track back tot he punk ethic and reminded me of reading City Fun whilst listening to the latest Gang of Four session on Peel! before returning to another sequencer heavy number CV1.

Side Two doesn’t let up. Graduate From Boredom with it’s phased guitar intro followed by another of Stringer’s sequencer driven themes makes you want to move and you wonder if the album title is meant as a double entendre. The Kraftwerk style rhythms and synths continue through The Boy From A Shed. Another existentialist lyric toWe Are On Our Own with Vin’s vocal perfectly complementing the driving Bass rhythm. To my ears Pubs, Clubs and Drugs is a slight lull even though the lyrics are a wry observation on today’s society, but Back In The Day finishes of the album on a high note with an almost Techno feel interspersed by a guitar riff Nile Rogers would be proud of.

I was left wanting more.