Meadies Musical Marconi

 Poignantly this would be one of the last reviews of Denise Johnson in the live setting. I remember seeing her in the venue before the gig started, she was just politely wandering around without any fanfare. Her presence on stage was that of a tambourine shaking goddess. RIP Denise ~ Seminal Manchester punk-funk band A Certain Ratio are celebrating 40 years on the floorboards with a tour that has taken them to every breadth and stretch of the nation. Matt Mead catches the band in Nottingham at The Rescue Rooms, the band’s first visit to the city in 30 years. The force of nature that is A Certain Ratio are packing quite a punch as one of the very best inventive and engaging bands on the live circuit, something the band have had comfortably lauded upon their shoulders for years, with accolades showering down on them show after show for what can only be described as a samba, pop, funk electro masterclass the gang from Manchester sure know how to throw an unforgettable party. W...

 One of the most poignant interviews I’ve done was with the soul singer Denise Johnson. To me she was a musical icon of the 90’s. Her vocals shaped many a dancefloor from that period as her tonsils sent towering vocals on tracks by the likes of Primal Scream, Electronic and A Certain Ratio. With the invent of social media, I cant remember how we first connected, but I used to message Denise regularly via Twitter, her replies were always polite, interesting and void of any ego. She was great. I last saw her on stage with A Certain Ratio a couple of years after this interview and she was as powerful a singer and performer as she was when I saw her on stage with the Primals. Anyways, this interview was to introduce her fans to investigate the release of Denise’s forthcoming solo album, which sadly she didn’t get to see released, but her legacy as one of the very best singers ever to spawn from Manchester has firmly been stamped into the northern musical landscape. This was first publi...