Department S (ft. Baz Warne) – So Far Away (2023)
Most well-known for their 1981 single ‘Is Vic There?’, UK-based Department S hit the ground running with a vintage prog-rock meets post-punk sound; of course, it wasn’t vintage then. Department S was on the way to building a great following, but the original band broke up before their recorded album was released. Skip forward to 1994 and producer Dave Tickle “coaxed a new-wave classic” with Department S’s Sub-Stance. Skip ahead a decade or so to 2007 and the band reformed to prove nothing is impossible as long as you’re driven. Now, 42 years after their first release, Phil Thomson (singer-songwriter and guitarist), Mike Lea (bass) and Simon Bowley (drums) have performed with legendary artists, played sold-out tours, and have a loyal international following.
Following their single ‘Burn Down Tomorrow’ and 40th-anniversary release of ‘Is Vic There?’, ‘So Far Away’ is Department S’s blast into 2023. As the original vocalist Vaughn Toulouse passed away in the early 90s, long-standing member Phil Thompson melds his rich vocals with powerful guitars and pounding drums. Unlike ‘Is Vic There?’ and ‘Burn Down Tomorrow’, ‘So Far Away’ leans further toward 80s classic rock with pop undertones. Cinematic and bold in a strangely soothing but gritty way, the single captures the beauty of organic rock with tinges of synthetic beats in the melody.
While the skills of Department S stand proud in ‘So Far Away’, a special mention must be given to guest guitarist Baz Warne of The Stranglers. Bringing a post-punk slide to the track, Warne adds beautiful vintage edginess to what is already a remarkable song. When speaking about Warne’s input in this collaborative project, Thompson explains “When we demoed the track we knew it would be a bit special and to match the reflective nature of the lyric we wanted to evoke the wistful kinda vibe that The Stranglers achieved on their classic ‘Relentless’…there was only one man to ask to add some “mood” guitar. After hearing the track, Baz immediately agreed…his playing definitely lifted the track even further.”
Wistful, whimsical and tender, Department S give us the ideal soundtrack to a memorable 80s film with their majestic ‘So Far Away’.
For more from Department S, check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
