'Moments Like These', the new album from Subway Sect, produced by Mick Jones and featuring the 1981 Subway Sect Line-Up, Vic Godard with Sean Mclusky, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton, & DC Collard and guest appearances by Mick Jones, Pete Williams, Terry Edwards And Simon Rivers.

Sukhdev Sandhu runs a publishing imprint Texte und Töne in New York. The LP, the imprint's first, is also the first-ever Subway Sect record to come out in the States. (Perhaps unsurprisingly: they did have a song called U.S. Cunts!) It's been produced by Mick Jones of The Clash. (A White Riot '77 reunion of sorts.) ‘There’s a certain element of unspoiltness about the whole thing and that’s what really appealed to me about it.’ Mick Jones MOJO.

‘This is Vic reflecting on a lifetime in the music business. It sounds like a record that he had to make and is perfect for now. When I was a kid, I used to make up my fantasy punk band with members from different bands and they almost always contained Vic Godard and Mick Jones. The songs are as good as it gets and with Mick Jones producing and playing piano, what more do you need?’ Jim Reid, Jesus and Mary Chain.

‘The Subway Sect story is one of the strangest, and therefore one of the best. Vic Godard indicated ways that pop should go. He dropped hints, left clues. It is all there.’ Kevin Pearce.

‘Vic's always walked his own path. He's a model of independence. No wonder that he's recorded for some of the best UK independents (Rough Trade, el, Postcard). Years ago, when I was writing a book about nocturnal London, he took me on a postal round with him, all the while telling me funny stories about some of the prog rock aristos whose mail he delivered, and enthusing about the latest hip hop and bhangra he was listening to. Asked by Time Out to write an essay about my favourite Londoner, I wrote it about Vic. Now, in summer 2021, I'm very happy to help release Moments Like These. It's about thinking back and thinking forward, about walking your own path. It's got soul, swagger and swing. Vic Godard: always onward!’ Sukhdev Sandhu.

‘It was an accident really as Sukhdev wanted to put What's the Matter Boy out until I told him I'd just recorded a new LP. I'd been in discussions with loads of record labels but they all wanted to get my back catalogue digital rights and weren't into the idea of putting out a new LP. I thought it was on course to be my 2nd lost album until the phone calls with Sukhdev.’ Vic.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE 1
A1. Since The '80s
Simon Rivers - Organ
Vic Godard - Guitar
Mick Jones, Simon Rivers, Johnny Britton, Chris Bostock, Sean McLusky -
B/vs

A2. The Place We Used To Live
Mick Jones - Piano
Simon Rivers - Piano
Vic Godard - Guitar
Simon Rivers, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

A3. M.I.P.P (managing The Inter-product Pipeline)
Vic Godard - Guitar
Sean McLusky, Vic Godard, Johnny Britton, Chris Bostock - Chant

A4. Commercial Suicide Man
DC Collard - Piano
Mick Jones - Percussion
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

A5. Sharks 'n' Vipers
Mick Jones - Piano
Simon Rivers - Piano
Vic Godard - Guitar
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

A6. Footsteps On A Star
Mick Jones - Piano
Simon Rivers - Piano
Terry Edwards - Baritone Sax
Vic Godard - Guitar
Mick Jones, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton, Simon Rivers - B/vs

B1. Bossa Nova Boy
Mick Jones - Keyboards
Vic Godard - Electric Piano & Guitar
Mick Jones, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

B2. Juke Box
Mick Jones - Piano
Simon Rivers - Electric Piano
Vic Godard - Electric Piano & Guitar
Terry Edwards - Baritone Sax
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

B3. How High The Walls?
Mick Jones - Piano
DC Collard - Organ
Simon Rivers - Electric Piano
Vic Godard - Electric Piano & Guitar
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

B4. Jelly Legs
Mick Jones - Percussion & Clavinet
Sean McLusky, Chris Bostock, Vic Godard - B/vs

B5. She Looks Sad
Mick Jones - Piano
Simon Rivers - Banjo
Vic Godard - Guitar & Organ

B6. Time Shoulda Made A Man O' Me
DC Collard - Piano
Pete Williams - Clarinet
Mick Jones, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton - B/vs

I started recording mums' revenge in summer 2016. Dave Morgan (The Rockingbirds, ATV, The Weather Prophets) had just joined the Subway Sect as our latest drummer and had a studio in his front room in St Albans. Over the next two and a half years we gradually did more and more tracks until we had more than enough for a record. I played all the instruments while Dave did the drums, percussion and recording. I was happy with my bass lines but not my bass playing which was all attack and no finesse. Luckily Ruth Tidmarsh was on hand and is a superb bassist and fine singer. Dave had already alerted me to her skills as a photographer but as a three piece Sect we were all in the same zone musically, which is a must when you have a tight budget. So Ruth played my bass lines but in a more musicianly way (ie. no horrid buzzy noises). It was an altogether happier experience than most recording set-ups. No outside interference meant we could do just as we wished and we had lots of voices other than mine in the final mix - which we had hoped for from the outset. We were helped out by Helen McCookerybook, Simon Rivers and Neil Palmer from the Bitter Springs/Oldfield Youth Club, Davy Henderson, Jock Scot and Gareth Sager, and Subo from Asbo Derek. The intro is spoken by a friend of mine called Neil Palmer - he's a drummer who writes a bit of poetry as a result of doing a gig in Manchester with me, The Bitter Springs and Jock Scot about 15 years ago. Jock inspired him to get a slim volume of his own poetry printed up. We did a live reading/music session for Resonance - Johny Brown's Bad Punk show. Neil recited the words over my single, Can’t take the sunshine away and I asked if he could repeat the trick for my LP.