Uncut Funk 100% ACR Special!

Friday 19 April 2013
8pm
Uncut Funk @ The Nook and Cranny
Martin Moscrop
Donald Johnson

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The Nook
535 Wilbraham Rd
Manchester M21 0UE

Labels: DJ, Donald_Johnson, events, Manchester, Martin_Moscrop

Factory Records Ltd (the resurrected imprint via LTM) releases a new double vinyl edition of Section 25's 1984 landmark album From The Hip on 28 May. The album, produced by Bernard Sumner, combined smooth synthpop with seamless electro beats. This new version features digitally re-mastered audio, with the original FACT 90 album on a single LP plus a bonus 12" single with two versions of seminal single FAC 108 Looking From A Hilltop. The 8-minute proto-techno Megamix version was edited and mixed by Sumner and Donald Johnson of ACR, and later sampled by both Orbital and The Shamen. The flip features Stephen Morris's (New Order/The Other Two) 2010 remix.

Peter Saville has 'digitally remastered' his original cover design with help from Matthew Robertson and Idea Digital.

Tracklisting

Disc 1

1. The Process
2. Looking From A Hilltop
3. Reflection
4. Prepare To Live
5. Program For Light
6. Desert
7. Beneath The Blade
8. Inspiration

Disc 2

1. Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
2. Looking From A Hilltop (Stephen Morris Mix)

Although original vocalists Larry and Jenny Cassidy have sadly passed away, Section 25 continue to perform and record in 2012 with work on a new album ongoing. Fronted by founder member Vin Cassidy, along with Beth Cassidy (daughter of Larry and Jenny) on vocals and keyboards they are joined by Steven Stringer on guitar and keyboards & Stuart Hill on keyboards. The band brings their retro-futurism to selected live dates throughout 2012:

29 May - Leadmill, Sheffield (with Peter Hook and The Light)
1 June - Islington 02 Academy, London (with Peter Hook and The Light)
1 July - DV8 Festival, York
25 Oct - Band On The Wall, Manchester (co-headlining with X-O-Dus)
10 Nov - Wroclaw Festival, Poland

Labels: Bernard_Sumner, Donald_Johnson, events, Factory_Records, gigs, LTM, Matthew_Robertson, Peter_Saville, Section_25, Stephen_Morris

Back in the old days, Steve McGarry was a good mate of Donald Johnson and Rob Gretton's. He designed record sleeves for Slaughter & The Dogs as well as the sleeve for the Ideal for Living 12" by Joy Division. He moved to LA years ago and is now a pretty successful illustrator.

In the present day, Steve's sons have a band called Pop Noir and they've played a few times with Donald whenever he's been over in the States. Check out this video of them playing a great version of Do The Du in Steve's garage, recorded when Ratio played the Part-Time Punks festival in LA toward the end of last year.

With thanks to Rofey.

Labels: Donald_Johnson, Joy_Division

Our new Parisien friends, Pascal et Sylvie, have posted more "80s analogue cameras with built-in microphones" videos from their 1987 UK 'tour' that was first mentioned here last month.

The latest videos, dated 13th August 1987, feature A Certain Ratio in rehearsal at their Soundstation 1 studio in The Boardwalk, and feature (previously recorded) Only Together from Force, and (yet to be recorded) Coldest Days from Good Together.

Five points for recognising this as being recorded during the spell of endless showcase gigs and demo sessions in the run up to the ill-fated A&M deal.

Ten points for spotting that the track Coldest Days grew out of Donald Johnson's one-man-band live drum soundcheck.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Donald_Johnson

LTM releases 'Dirty Disco', the first 'best of' collection from Section 25 this March.

It marks 30 years of SXXV and features tracks from all phases, line-ups and albums, as well as an exclusive new 'lounge' version of 'Knew Noise'.

Featured producers include Martin Hannett, Bernard Sumner, Donald Johnson and Ian Curtis.

The booklet includes archive images, an SXXV appreciation by John Robb, 15 tracks and 67 minutes of music.

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LTMCD 2515 'Dirty Disco (Best Of)
Release date: March 2008

Tracklisting

Knew Noise
Up To You
Dirty Disco
New Horizon
Haunted
Wretch
Sakura
Warhead
Beating Heart
Looking From A Hilltop (Remix)
Reflection
Bad News Week
Power Base
Winterland II
Knew Noise (Lounge Version)

Available direct from LTM and in good record shops priced 10.00 GBP.

Labels: Bernard_Sumner, Donald_Johnson, Ian_Curtis, Martin_Hannett, Section_25

A Certain Ratio were in Manchester's Cutting Room studios on 17/18 June recording new material for the first time since the 'Starlight' sessions. The core line-up of Donald Johnson (drums / percussion), Jez Kerr (bass, vocals, samples), Martin Moscrop (guitar) and Tony Quigley (sax, keyboards) augmented by Liam Mullen (keyboards) laid down three tracks developed in recent rehearsal sessions. Cerysmatic Factory filmed the sessions for future web broadcast. Photo gallery coming soon.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Donald_Johnson, Jez_Kerr

LTM has 4 new CDs in stock (with promise of Berntholer and more Anna Domino to follow soon):

Various Artists - LTMCD 2398 'Twice As Nice - BE MUSIC / DOJO / MARK KAMINS / ARTHUR BAKER PRODUCTIONS' (this is the long-awaited sequel to LTMCD 2377 Cool As Ice: The Be Music Productions 1983-85)
Minny Pops - LTMCD 2384 'Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement' (with video clips)
Anna Domino - LTMCD 2383 'East & West' (with extra live tracks recorded in Japan)
Marine 'Life in Reverse' (with video clips)

Full details can be seen at the official LTM website

As usual, you can order these ahead of the store release date direct from LTM by mail order.

Thanks to James at LTM.

Labels: Anna_Domino, Arthur_Baker, Donald_Johnson, Mark_Kamins, Minny_Pops, New_Order

On 24 July 1981, The Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio and Kevin Hewick played a Factory mini-festival at Kaivopuisto Park, Helsinki, Finland. As previously reported here, this event was documented on Fact 56 A Factory Video on the track 'The Missing Boy' by The Durutti Column. Here is an extract from Kevin Hewick's reminiscences of the event, taken from full version which also features photos and video stills:

"The Finns were lovely people, great fans of the UK music scene and very pleased to have us playing there. The Kaviopuisto Park concerts were held every Sunday - Paul Jones and The Blues Band had done the one before.

Ratio, now with American Tilly on vocals with Simon Topping, were at their height of that era, extraordinarily good live - Donald Johnson just shone and seemed to steer it, really he was the most talented of any of the bands. I honestly think Tony missed out on a developing a talent who could have been a major artist in his own right - I'm sure Donald himself would laugh at that notion! Vini was a frail little bird, a mournful fellow who I loved dearly. On the 'plane back I sat next to him and he was about fading away.

On the plane to there I'd sat with Tony. Tony: "I'm having a Cointreau do you want one?" Me (betraying my council estate roots) "Whats a Cointreau?". Ah, if only I'd have said "What's a fookin' Cointreau" Tony would have hailed me as the greatest poet since Keats and there'd have been no Shaun Ryder!

There were also 2 shows at a grand 18th century building called The Old Student House and New Order had done there too. Someone said New Order actually weren't very good at their Old Student House show - see, already paying the price of not getting me in on vocals after all!

We stayed at a big hotel, 'The American Hotel', with a great bar in the round - astonishing buffet breakfast served there too. I shared a room with Donald Johnson and John Hollingsworth who later became 2nd in command at Warners UK A&R and, with Margaret Thatcher was to blame for the Eighties, (he gave us Howard Jones and the like) slept on our floor. He'd hitch-hiked there using me as a way to get to Wilson. Of course when John did get to the top from Cherry Red records (he failed to worm his way in at Factory) to Warners friends like me and Eyeless in Gaza were dropped like hot spuds.

15,000 people! I never faced so many before, never again. A glorious summer day - though the nights were also filled with sunshine, 2AM on the park like 2PM in England and it all felt so safe, no hassle with anyone, nothing like that".

Many thanks to Kevin Hewick.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Donald_Johnson, Factory_Records, Kevin_Hewick, New_Order, Simon_Topping, The_Durutti_Column, Tony_Wilson

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