A tragic and sad loss for all who knew and loved Denise; and for British music as a whole – her debut album is almost like a parting gift to the world. Stripped back, evocative and really inspiring.
Simply vocals and acoustic guitar, Denise Johnson’s debut solo album ‘Where Does It Go’ is a very Mancunian affair. Recorded ‘as live’ in Ancoats with Thomas Twemlow on acoustic guitar, she covers iconic songs that mean something to her from Manchester bands including New Order, The Smiths, and 10cc, as well as her own compositions. Best known for her two 1990s albums with Primal Scream (Screamadelica and Give Out But Don’t Give Up), Denise provided guest vocals for artists ranging from Bernard Butler, New Order and Ian Brown to Michael Hutchence and The Waterboys; she also sang for almost 30 years with Manchester stalwarts A Certain Ratio.
Finally, this Manchester girl’s own, solo album is well overdue and – since her sudden death in July – has become something of a legacy; a parting gift. The stripped-back format of ‘Where Does It Go’ puts Denise’s gorgeous voice centre-stage; even without the extraordinary circumstances, it just does something to you.