Fitting seamlessly into a career of awesome highs with Primal Scream, A Certain Ratio, New Order and many more, the memory of Denise Johnson lives even longer with the addition of Explanation to her extensive back catalogue.
Completed and released by Sea Fever, initially as a physical-formats bonus track and now digitally, the gutsy call-and-response two-hander shared with the band’s vocalist, Beth Cassidy, is one of, if not the last known recording of Johnson’s voice captured before her death in 2020.
Profoundly missed for her talent, generosity and indefinable spark she brought to every song, whether exploring new projects or singing on era-defining tracks including Primal Scream’s Don’t Fight It Feel it and Electronic’s Get The Message, her collaboration with Sea Fever began in studio sessions with friend the band’s songwriter and bassist, Tom Chapman. Also a member of New Order, the musician and producer began writing and recording sessions with the late singer in 2019, only to be interrupted by the Covid 19 outbreak. Returning to the track meant facing the loss of his friend all over again.
He says: “The music was largely recorded in 2019 but it was then left incomplete, frozen in time. I always knew it had something special but, emotionally, I couldn’t find a way to finish it. Every time I returned to Denise’s vocal, it was like she was still in the room. Her presence was so strong. It took time to be ready. Now, with the help of Sea Fever and a stunning vocal from Beth, we’ve finally brought it home.
“This isn’t just a release, it’s a farewell, a thank you, and a reminder of how lucky we were to hear that voice in our lifetime.”
Originally released as one track on a bonus 7” vinyl release, accompanying an indie’s only edition of the band’s second album, Surface Sound, the track’s unfinished state opened the door to an overdue collaboration between Johnson and the band’s vocalist, Cassidy, also of legendary Factory Records post-punks, Section 25. It brought about a response that fought for the two women’s fragile place in a male-dominated music industry, bringing “fight to the battle.”
Cassidy reflects: “Denise’s voice has such a presence that makes you sit up and listen, and when I heard the vocals she’d laid down for ‘Explanation’, they had such a commanding and vibrant kind of energy. Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to be able to find out what her intentions were lyrically, so instead I tried to match the same energy and vibe she brought.
“The lyrics are simple, I wanted the focus to be on how they dance along the beat, some words actually ended up as expressive, kind of emotive sounds. She made me dig deep with the performance when we recorded it. It was a lively one! I dialled up the “woman power”!”
Sea Fever’s line-up includes songwriter and vocalist, Iwan Gronow, also spotted as Johnny Marr’s long-standing bassist, New Order lead guitarist, Phil Cunningham and drummer, Elliot Barlow, who carries a long list of performing credits, including in the studio and on stage with Brix and The Extricated. In May the band released Surface Sound to follow up 2021’s debut album, Folding Lines.
Released on multiple formats, including vinyl, CD and digital, the album was written and recorded in studios in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, self-produced by Sea Fever with support from long-term collaborator and Pet Shop Boys’ musical director, Pete Gleadall.
Sea Fever Breakdown ‘Surface Sound’ – Their Most Euphoric Record Yet | XS Noize Podcast #227 – Listen here.
Be the first to comment