Their debut 7", Girls Don't Count, was released in 1980 on Factory Records, produced by Rob Gretton and Ian Curtis of Joy Division. All Section 25 releases would be released through Factory Records. Their debut LP, Always Now, was released in 1981 and produced by Martin Hannett.
The three-piece group played many gigs in Britain and Northern Europe between 1979 and 1981, both as a headline act and with other Factory Records artists, such as Joy Division, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Crispy Ambulance and New Order. The group also released a self-produced second album, The Key of Dreams. However the original line-up split in 1982 when Paul Wiggin declined to fly to the United States for their first North American tour.
Joined by percussionist Lee Shallcross, Section 25 gradually evolved a more electronic-dance direction, a process which culminated in the album From the Hip and single Looking From A Hilltop, both released in 1984 and produced by Bernard Sumner of New Order. This new version of the band also featured Angela Flowers (vocals, keyboards) and Jenny Ross (vocals, keyboards). This line-up completed a second tour of North America in 1985.
In 1986 the group again splintered, leaving husband-and-wife team Larry Cassidy and Jenny Ross to complete a fourth album, Love and Hate, finally released by Factory in 1988. Section 25 then fell silent for more than a decade, although their entire catalogue was reissued on CD on LTM as well as an archive DVD.
In 2001 Larry Cassidy rejoined with Vincent Cassidy and Ross to write new material. Jenny Ross unfortunately died in 2004. Now with Ian Butterworth (ex of fellow Factory act Tunnelvison) on guitar and Roger Wikeley on bass and keyboards the band performed their first live show in nearly two decades at their hometown Poulton-Le-Fylde in May 2006 followed by dates in Blackpool, Paris, Brussels and Leicester. Larry and Vin Cassidy also feature in the 2006 Factory documentary film Shadowplayers.
Interest in the band began to increase with the release of a new studio album entitled Part-Primitiv in 2007. Their back catalogue has since risen in stature with much of it being featured in their live appearances. They played at Plan K in 2007 as part of the Factory Night (Once Again) event, being joined onstage by Peter Hook of New Order for a cover of Temptation. Further dates were announced in 2008 across 4 venues across Europe including Brussels - Peter Hook joined them on each date for several songs before retiring to the DJ booth for a couple of hours for the after-shows.
The band released a new album in 2009 called Nature + Degree. The record featured the introduction of Larry and Jenny's daughter Bethany Cassidy[/bandmeber] as the band's new singer.
Larry Cassidy died on Feb 27, 2010. The band's new album "Retrofit", a collection of re-recordings of previous Section 25 songs that was completed before Larry's death, was released on September 14. The band has continued following Larry's death with Vin Cassidy as the band's only remaining original member. Section 25 currently consists of Bethany Cassidy (vocals, keyboards), Joanna Cassidy (vocals, keyboards), Vincent Cassidy (drums) and Stephen Stringer (guitar).
The Wheel
Section 25 Lyrics
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On the wheel x2
The diamond mind... clouds doesn't know
Enter the wheel x2
The Golden Snowflake... shimmering web...
Leave the wheel stand outside it x2
It's moving traffic on the wheel
You are traffic on the wheel
On the wheel you always pay the price
Enter the wheel x4
The diamond mind... ... ... web... (repeat)
Leave the wheel stand outside it leave the wheel
You are traffic on the wheel...
"The Wheel" by Section 25 is a melancholic and contemplative song that reflects on the cyclical nature of life and explores ideas of repetition and fate. The opening line "Pay the price...you always pay the price" suggests that life has a cost and that we must always give up something in order to move forward. The repetition of the phrase "on the wheel" accentuates the idea of life being a continuous cycle that we are all a part of, and that we cannot escape from.
The second verse mentions "the diamond mind" and "shimmering web", which could allude to the complex web of causes and effects that make up our lives. The line "it's moving traffic on the wheel" suggests that we are not just individuals, but part of a larger system that is constantly in motion. The lyrics "leave the wheel stand outside it" imply that there may be moments when we can step outside of this system, whether through self-reflection, meditation or simply choosing a different path.
Overall, "The Wheel" is a song that encourages listeners to reflect on the choices they make in life and to consider the larger forces that are at play. It is a thoughtful and introspective piece of music that rewards repeated listens.
Line by Line Meaning
Pay the price... you always pay the price
No matter what, you must always give up something in exchange.
On the wheel x2
This phrase emphasizes the idea that life is like a wheel that constantly turns and moves.
The diamond mind... clouds doesn't know
The mind is a precious and valuable thing that others may not fully understand or appreciate.
Enter the wheel x2
Jumping into the flow of life and allowing the wheel to carry you forward.
The Golden Snowflake... shimmering web...
The beauty and fragility of life.
Leave the wheel stand outside it x2
Pausing and stepping outside of the chaos and noise of life to reflect and gain clarity.
It's moving traffic on the wheel
The constant flow of people and events that shape our lives and the world around us.
You are traffic on the wheel
Reminding us that we are all part of this constant flow and that no one is exempt from its effects.
Enter the wheel x4
A repeated call to engage with and embrace the flow of life.
The diamond mind... ... ... web... (repeat)
A poetic restatement of the idea that the mind is a precious and valuable thing that is sometimes hard to fully comprehend or express.
Leave the wheel stand outside it leave the wheel
Reiterating the importance of taking breaks from the constant flow of life to gather oneself and gain perspective.
You are traffic on the wheel...
The final line echoes the earlier reminder that we are all constantly moving through life, subject to its ebbs and flows.
Contributed by Austin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.