Assistant: Certain Memories
(Subjangle)
Vinyl | CD | DL | Streaming
Available 17th November
Brighton-based band Assistant are back with their first new music since 2022. Their latest album, Certain Memories, is out this week on the South African label Subjangle.
Formed in 2002 by Jonathan Shipley, Peter Simmons, and Anne-Sophie Marsh, after Jonathan posted an ad on a Brighton forum looking for like-minded musicians. They released two albums, Ten Songs in 2003 and Second in 2006, but then they went their separate ways. Life happened – they moved around, got married, and had kids. But during the first lockdown, after many years apart, they realised they missed each other and decided to reconnect. Jonathan and Pete started writing again, which led to the release of In The April Sun in 2020. That album was a reflection on the lockdown and friendship. Then Anne-Sophie rejoined for the follow-up, This World Could Be So Much Fun in 2022. All four of their albums have since been reissued.
Even though they might not be a recognisable name to many, the band had their fans, like Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison, who said, “I love the vocals, guitars, drums, melodies, and lyrics. What an authentic, fantastic sound.”
Their new album, Certain Memories, has 12 tracks that you’ll want to listen to on repeat, it opens up with repeat plays. It’s a heartwarming and loving album that explores the complexities of memory, family, and self-discovery. A collection of personal stories that beautifully capture the joys and challenges of midlife.
Running through the heart of the album is Shipley’s Mum, Jil. Many of a certain age will recognise the name, Jil Shipley. Jil’s drawings for Jackie Magazine taught teenage girls how to dress in ways that probably horrified their parents. Her drawings changed people, and she is regularly cited in art books and pop culture. With Song For Jil, at the time of Johnathan writing the song, she’s just been released from hospital following a fall in 2022 which left her sense of the present was obliterated, along with her ability to draw. Jil was in her 80s and had been teetering of the precipice of dementia for quite a long time. Jil Is Fading was written later, the songwriter explaining, “Memory loss is a cruel trick that life plays, and the pain of watching it transform a person is tragic to behold.” Johnathan had got married in 2023, with Jil there – sort of. I’m sure that the tracks will resonate with many, myself included who have gone through, are going through similar experiences. Tracks such as Before and After You, Fresh Ingredients and A Million Stars all also deal loss, with the aspects of memory and watching a person floating away…
Before and After You as well as dealing with loss celebrates love and the way it changes you. It’s also the band’s first foray into French, reflects on the power of love and the intensity of those positive memories which will remain forever. Along with love, My Phone Began To Ring and I’m So Much Better both focus on personal rejuvenation.
Throughout all of Assistant’s albums all three members (when there) have taken turns in stepping up to the mic which offers diversity. It maybe lazy journalism however the closest I can think to the experience of absorbing Certain Memories is listening to a Belle and Sebastian album. There are a variety of styles coming into play as well. You have the mid-tempo Raking Leaves, informed by all the members love of gardening sang by Peter, then the guitar laden shoegazey, Tread part true life horror-story, part meditation on madness sung by Anne-Sophie to the subtly intricate, aforementioned Jil is Fading, which is both mixed by, and features Helen McCookerybook on vocals and melodica.
Certain Memories is the album you didn’t know you wanted in your life. If you’ve not been aware of Assistant before I’d recommend you dive into their back catalogue too, they could just be one of your favourite new bands…
Find Assistant on X/Twitter and Instagram
All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him on X (Twitter) as @iainkey
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