Northern Lights / Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)

Northern Lights / Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)
single by Soft Cell
Cover photograph by Mike Owen
Released	28 September 2018
Recorded	Dean Street Studios Kick Studios
Produced	David Ball, Riccardo Mulhall
Label	Universal Mercury
Genre	synth-pop
Format	7", CD
Previous	Say Hello Wave Goodbye / Youth
Next	*Happiness Not Included / Bruises On All My Illusions
Related	Keychains And Snowstorms: The Singles

Northern Lights / Guilty (Cos I Say You Are) is a double-A side single by Soft Cell released in September 2018 toward duo's 40th anniversary. It also was released in a form remix maxi single and included on a compilation of singles, all released on the same day.

Recording

During the making of retrospective box set release, Keychains And Snowstorms, Dave Ball shared with Marc Almond some of his new pieces of music and the latter started working on lyrics for them. The new songs − “Northern Lights” and “Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)” were eventually recorded in 2018, with production and recording by Ball and producer Riccardo Mulhall, at his Kick Studios, Richmond, and additional work by Jonny Solway and Tris Penna on Almond's vocals at Dean Street Studios, Soho.

Release

Single's release was preceded by radio play and streaming platform release of the first song, “Northern Lights”, on 21th August 2018, with announce of both the single and associated CD compilation Keychains And Snowstorms: The Singles, where it was included. On 27th September, just a day away from physical release, a music video appeared on duo's official YouTube channel.

The single was released as double-A side with radio edits on 7" vinyl and as maxi single with original versions and remixes on CD on 28 September 2018, along with CD compilation and picture disc remix EP. However the single wasn't included on associated, but released at slightly earlier date, Keychains And Snowstorms box set due to manufacturing times.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Marc Almond, David Ball and Riccardo Mulhall.

7" vinyl

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	“Northern Lights” (Radio Edit)	3:05

Side AA
No.	Title	Length
1.	“Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)” (Radio Edit)	3:15

CD

No.	Title	Length
1.	“Northern Lights” (Extended Mix)	5:58
2.	“Northern Lights”	4:21
3.	“Northern Lights” (Dub)	5:58
4.	“Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)” (Extended Mix)	6:16
5.	“Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)”	4:21
6.	“Guilty (Cos I Say You Are)” (Dub)	6:16

Personnel

• Written-By (lyrics) − Marc Almond
• Written-By (music) − David Ball, Riccardo Mulhall
• Vocals − Marc Almond
• Backing Vocals – James Beaumont, Marc Almond
• Production – Dave Ball, Riccardo Mulhall
• Production (vocals) – Tris Penna (“Northern Lights”)
• Recording – Dave Ball, Riccardo Mulhall
• Recording (vocals) – Jonny Solway
• Mastering – Barry Grint
• Mixing – Philip Larsen

Artwork

The sleeve of vinyl single features photographs by Mike Owen of neon signs glowing in the dark − ‘Soft Cell’ on the front, ‘Marc Almond’ and ‘Dave Ball’ on the back. The photographs were edited by Stefan Fähler, creating more compact images of originally long signs, and particularly omitting second names for the back side artwork. The full release information is on vinyl label of AA side. Art Direction and design are credited to Philip Marshall.

The artwork of CD maxi-single differs significantly: on front cover, against plain black background there is only glowing ‘Soft Cell’ neon sign, in the middle and in its full length. Inside − a new photograph of Almond and Ball. Both photographs credited to Mike Owen, the design and artwork credits remain the same as well.

See also

• Keychains And Snowstorms: The Singles − compilation of singles which includes Northern Lights / Guilty (Cos I Say You Are) and was released the same day
• Keychains And Snowstorms − USB memory stick release with exclusive tracks, recorded around the same time

References

See more about Soft Cell!