Emerging in 1977 onto the same Birmingham punk scene as Swell Maps, Spizzenergi and The Nightingales (now the subject of the acclaimed Stewart Lee documentary King Rocker), Cult Figures initially released one single – the now sought-after ‘Zip Nolan’ – and an EP before splitting.After decades of life getting in the way, the Figures returned in 2016 to record The 166 Ploughs A Lonely Furrow, an album of new recordings of songs written back in the day. The band now follow that up with Deritend, which represents a full-length collection of their first new music in 40 years.
Taking its title from the historic industrial district close to Birmingham city centre, Deritend was recorded at London’s Toerag Studios with Liam Watson (White Stripes, Billy Childish, Madness), and Woodbine Street Studios in Leamington Spa with John Rivers (The Specials, Paul Weller, Felt), and features the band’s new line-up; based around longtime members Gary Jones (vocals) and Jon Hodgson (guitar), they’re joined by ex-Alternative TV bassist Lee McFadden, former Junior Cottonmouth drummer Stuart Hilton and multi-instrumentalist Barney Russel.
The band are trailing the album release with a video for the lead track ‘Chicken Bones’ made by Hodgson – a BAFTA-winning filmmaker in his own right – and featuring Jones perambulating the streets of Shoreditch, Soho and Clerkenwell in London.
“The lurid imagery documents the human remains and detritus of a drug and alcohol fuelled nightlife,” says Jones. “The chicken bones and ketchup splats; the dropped fries and tough guys; the pigeon feasters and the drink can beasters. Echoing the words of the song, the debris captured on camera chronicles the story of the streets that ‘look different, but… all still smell the same’.”
Released through Gare Du Nord Records on 26 March, Deritend is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl here and digitally here.
