Classic Album: Second Hand Daylight

Magazine: Second Hand Daylight

You knew from the opening spaghetti-western guitar riff of debut single Shot By Both Sides, realeased in the bleak winter of 1978, that Magazine were going to be a bit special. The debut album Real Life didn't disappoint, but it was the experimental, synthesiser driven Second Hand Daylight, released just a fedw eeks before Margaret Thatcher's conservative party came into power in 1979, which stands out as their classic work, and a defining piece of the post-punk era.

The band was formed in Manchester by Howard Devoto shortly after he left  Buzzcocks (it is not The Buzzcocks, as is commonly assumed. It's just Buzzcocks) in early 1977. If you have never listened to the songs on the Spiral Scratch, Buzzcocks seminal debut EP, you need to right away. Buzzcocks had been in at the early days of punk, playing at the legendary 2-day puk festival in London's 100 Club in September 1976. 

In April 1977 Devoto met guitarist John McGeoch, then an art student, and they began writing songs, some of which would appear on Real Life. They then recruited Barry Adamson on bass, Bob Dickinson on keyboards and Martin Jackson (previously of The Freshies) on drums, to form the first line-up of the band, which signed to Virgin Records. Magazine played their debut live gig at the Rafters, in Manchester, on 28 October 1977.   The band made its first major TV appearance on Top Of The Pops in February 1978, performing Shot By Both By Sides. 

In 1979 Magazine's second album, Secondhand Daylight was released. Secondhand Daylight features more experimental, synthesizer-based material. That same year, McGeoch, Adamson and Formula joined electronic project Visage, recording and releasing the single Tar. After the release of the album, Devoto decided to change producer, choosing Martin Hannett, who produced their next album in the same year, The Correct Use of Soap.

Second Hand Daylight's track list contains no filler: dark, cold, nihilstic. Feed the Enemy, Rhythm of Cruelty, Back to Nature and Permafrost stand out, but the whole album sounded like nothing else at the time, and remains fresh. Their influence is huge: Radiohead, The Smiths, Franz Ferdinand and dozens of other bands have sited Magazine as an influence. Early in 2009 Magazine refomred for a 5-date sell-out tour, (without John McGeough who sadly died in 2004). Devoto has not ruled out new material. We live in hope.