Northside have reissued their 1991 Factory Records album Chicken Rhythms through London Records. The release is available on vinyl and CD, with the LP pressed on green vinyl and cut from the original Factory masters. Central Station Design, who created the sleeve for the band’s debut single, handled the restored artwork. The expanded CD includes 24 pages of liner notes by John Robb, alongside radio edits and additional tracks from the band’s 1990 singles output.
Artist: Northside
Release Date: 2025-11-14
Genres: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Label: London Records
Description: Northside reissue 1991 Factory album Chicken Rhythms on London Records. Green vinyl, original masters, new remixes. Happy Mondays tour dates ahead.
Ian Broudie produced Chicken Rhythms, which reached the UK Top 20 upon its June 1991 release. The album contained “Take 5” and “Shall We Take A Trip?”, both of which have been remixed by The Reflex and Leo Zero for a new 12-inch release. A three-track CD titled The 12″s includes the original extended mixes of “Shall We Take A Trip?”, “My Rising Star”, and “Moody Places”.
The band formed in Blackley and Moston in early 1989. Warren Dermody and Cliff Ogier started the group, later adding Paul Walsh on drums and Michael Upton on guitar. Tim Walsh replaced Upton before the release of “Shall We Take A Trip?” in June 1990. The single reached the Top 50 despite BBC Radio refusing to play it and some retailers declining to stock it due to drug references. The sleeve featured a plum illustration that became associated with the band.
“My Rising Star” followed in October 1990, charting at number 32. Northside opened the Great British Music Weekend at Wembley Arena in January 1991, broadcast live on Radio One across three nights alongside James and The Cure. The band performed “Shall We Take A Trip?” despite requests from the station not to, causing Radio One to halt the broadcast temporarily.
“Take 5” appeared simultaneously on Factory and Geffen Records in 1991. The track reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s alternative songs chart and number one in Canada. The band performed on Top of the Pops and played Elland Road that summer with Happy Mondays, The La’s, The Farm and The High.
Chicken Rhythms was released around the same period as Nirvana’s Nevermind in 1991. The shift toward Seattle grunge altered press coverage of Manchester bands. Northside had recorded a second album by 1992, with Factory assigning the catalogue number Fac 338 to a planned single titled “Cool Idea”. Factory Records collapsed in autumn 1992, preventing the album’s release. The band split shortly after.
Northside have reformed several times since their initial dissolution. Tim Walsh died in 2019. Dermody, Ogier and Walsh completed the Let’s Take Another Trip Tour in 2025, performing to sold-out venues. The band appeared at Gigantic Festival, Shine On Weekender and YNOT Festival this summer. A new album is scheduled for release in summer 2026. The band will support Happy Mondays on tour dates announced for next year.
Retrofurista is a site on design, interesting things, audio visual arts, and food.
Discover more from RetroFuturista
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
