Always Now

Factory Benelux presents an expanded 5xCD box set edition of Always Now, the debut album by cult Factory Records group Section 25 , produced by legendary sonic architect Martin Hannett and sleeved by Peter Saville.

Recorded as a trio at Pink Floyd’s Britannia Row studio in London in January 1981, Always Now combined austere postpunk rhythm and noise with elements of Can, Krautrock and modern psychedelia. Key tracks include Friendly Fires, Dirty Disco and New Horizon, along with C.P. (a collaboration with Hannett) and Hit (extensively sampled by Kanye West for the track F.M.L. on his 2016 album The Life of Pablo).

As well as the core album Disc 1 also includes several non-album singles from 1980 and 1981, including Charnel Ground, Je Veux Ton Amour and debut EP Girls Don’t Count – the latter produced by mentors Rob Gretton and Ian Curtis (of Joy Division).

Disc 2 offers a complete live show professionally recorded at Groningen (Netherlands) on 26 October 1980, as part of a Factory package tour, as well as a John Peel Session recorded in January 1981.

Disc 3 is part-improvised second studio album The Key of Dreams, recorded and produced by the band themselves a few months after Always Now, and released by Factory Benelux in June 1982.

Disc 4 consists of further experimental material recorded in 1981 and self-released on a cassette called Illuminus Illumina. The  disc closes with an extended live encore jam recorded with all four members of New Order at Reading University on 8 May 1981.

Disc 5 captures the band live on tour in Europe and North America in early 1982, including dates at New York Danceteria and the 9:30 Club in Washington. The set was originally intended for release as a live album on Factory America, with the landmark gig at Danceteria given a surprise onscreen puff by none other than Madonna on her recent ‘Celebration’ world tour.

The 32 page booklet features unseen images by noted photographer Philippe Carly and texts by founder members Larry and Vin Cassidy. Also included is the first ever interview with guitarist Paul Wiggin, whose sudden departure in late 1981 saw Tony Wilson try (and fail) to recruit pre-Smiths teenager Johnny Marr as replacement.