From the Hip (Section 25 album)

From the Hip
Studio album by Section 25
Released 1984
Recorded 1983
Genre Techno, Alternative, Electronic
Length 38:08
Label Factory
Producer Bernard Sumner
Section 25 chronology
The Key of Dreams
(1982)		 From the Hip
(1984)		 Love & Hate
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic (3/5)[1]

From the Hip is the third album by Blackpool band Section 25, released in 1984. Following on from previous releases Always Now and The Key of Dreams, it was a huge departure in terms of sound and scope. Abandoning their dark and dreary guitar drone sound, they embarked upon a new journey into the realms of electronica and techno, with the help of Bernard Sumner (of New Order) and Donald Johnson (of A Certain Ratio), both of whom helped to produce the album.

Peter Saville's artwork for the album featured a colour-based code that was present on a set of climbing poles on the album's sleeve. The band name and/or album title are apparently spelled out, and it's the same colour code that Saville used on New Order's releases from the same period, including Power, Corruption & Lies, "Blue Monday" and "Confusion". The presence of high-tech climbing equipment was meant to signify the advanced electronic elements of the band's new sound, and the setting of the Snowdonia landscape was meant to symbolise the acoustic (or natural) elements still present. This attempt to visualise the sound of the new album apparently back-fired when the band themselves reportedly claimed that the sleeve ended up "(looking like) an advert for climbing equipment".[2]

The album features subtle yet warm and atmospheric electronic tracks, such as "The Process" and "Inspiration", as well as the techno-style "Looking from a Hilltop" and the synthpop sounding "Reflection".

LTM Recordings reissued the album in 1998 with a number of bonus tracks. The package included extensive liner notes and was digitally remastered.

Contents

Track listing

UK Factory release

  1. "The Process" – 5:24
  2. "Looking from a Hilltop" – 4:23
  3. "Reflection" – 4:44
  4. "Prepare to Live" – 3:38
  5. "Program for Light" – 4:00
  6. "Desert" – 3:28
  7. "Beneath the Blade" – 4:16
  8. "Inspiration" – 8:15

1998 LTM reissue

  1. "The Process" – 5:24
  2. "Looking from a Hilltop" – 4:23
  3. "Reflection" – 4:44
  4. "Prepare to Live" – 3:38
  5. "Program for Light" – 4:00
  6. "Desert" – 3:28
  7. "Beneath the Blade" – 4:16
  8. "Inspiration" – 8:15
  9. "Looking from a Hilltop" (Restructure) – 4:38
  10. "Looking from a Hilltop" (Megamix) – 8:08
  11. "Dirty Disco II" – 5:28
  12. "Dirty Disco II" (Pre-Mix) – 4:03
  13. "Beating Heart" (12 Inch Remix) – 5:05
  14. "Back to Wonder" (12 Inch Version) – 3:20
  15. "Beating Heart" (12 Inch Version) – 5:10

"Dirty Disco II" is a harsh electronic reworking of "Dirty Disco" from the band's debut album, Always Now.

External links

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/sxxvbio.html