by John Bush
Not as strong as some of their Factory Records labelmates -- such as New Order, the Durutti Column, and A Certain Ratio -- Section 25 followed a similar course, providing a link between electronics-based new wave and the burgeoning indie dance movement of the mid- to late '80s. Formed in Blackpool in 1978 by brothers Larry and Vincent Cassidy, Section 25 later added guitarist Paul Wiggin and a drummer who quit soon afterwards. With an early template similar to Joy Division's atmospheric post-punk, the group played around England during 1979 and released their debut single, "Girls Don't Count," in early 1980. After several European gigs supporting New Order, the band signed to Factory Records later that year and released their debut album, Always Now, in 1981.
During 1982, the group finally added another drummer (Lee Shallcross), toured the U.S., and released their second album, Key of Dreams, on Factory's European subsidiary, Benelux. By the end of the year, the Cassidys grew frustrated with their approach to music and quit the business; six months later however, they were back as a full band -- with Shallcross plus new additions, including Larry Cassidy's wife Jenny and Angela Flowers. Adding more electronics, Section 25 returned in 1984 with From the Hip, an album that earned release worldwide, including the band's first (and only) American release (on Factory U.S.). Two years later, though, Love and Hate was the group's last proper studio album. Strange Fruit released a Peel Sessions EP in 1988.