single review / video premiere
Rachel Mayfield Group
History Aligned
DL only
Out now
First release under the Group name from Rachel Mayfield, with former Black Bombers rhythm section Darren Birch and Dave Twist on bass and drums respectively. This is a stunning track, says Ged Babey… old-school but brand-new. And an almost perfect piece of art.
I mean by a picture, a beautiful, romantic dream of something that never was, never will be – in a light better than any light that ever shone – in a land no one can define or remember, only desire – and the forms divinely beautiful.
Edward Burne-Jones on his art. (This can be applied to music too I say.)
Of course, the bands chosen name is no accident. This is the ‘Rachel Mayfield Group’ – like the ‘Patti Smith Group’ – and the ‘Romy Vager Group’, although they latter abbreviated it to more cryptic RVG.
This is an artist and their band. A different entity though to the solo work. And this rocks… and rolls, like waves breaking on a shore. It’s as deep as the ocean and gives Mayfields words and voice a bigger cinematic backdrop to highlight them even more.
History Aligned is a very cool track… but predictably there will be comparisons with Patti Smith, because it’s art-rock from a distinctive female voice – but there is much more to this…. This is a new beginning for the Birmingham artist of some repute.
This song is taken from Rachel Mayfield’s previous album titled Truth to Material. The band brought it to their live set while forming and writing new material for Collect The Hearts, their new album, due soon. Rachel Mayfield is a singer, writer and film-maker from Birmingham, UK. In the 1990s, she formed and fronted Indie Rock band ‘Delicious Monster’ being hailed by the NME as a “Goddess of Indie Rock’ and as ‘exciting, unpredictable and dangerous as a ten-legged Tyrannosaurus’.
Bass-player Darren Birch has played in bands with heroic figures like Walter Lure and was in sleaze-rockers Gunfire Dance before forming Black Bombers with drummer Dave Twist – himself an absolute legendary figure in punk rock history as he was in the Prefects.
Rachel Mayfield seems on a mission to re-popularise that 1970’s fashion staple ‘hot-pants’ which has not gone unnoticed by our mutual friend Lurkers drummer Esso / the author Pete Haynes who on the bands Facebook page wrote: “Best legs in the music industry – Rachel that is”, but does seem keen for Darren to try some too…
That aside, History Aligned is the coolest song I’ve heard this year. A far-reaching lyric that stretches from the Druids to the Moon Society via the Birmingham-born artist Edward Burne-Jones. A song for all the great artists whose stories, for the most part, remain untold
Somebody needs to shout out for you
There is nothing to show for what you made
But stones beneath the feet of strangers
Who pulled the weeds to find your grave
Why are you buried where you died
Why is there such a great divide
Why isn’t history aligned
Why are you buried where you died
I want to know
Who made blue stone
Who the Druids were
Who the games were for
The Godless children’s names
The industry remains
The artists like Burne Jones
To walk the catacombs
The moon society
To set the sprits free
They all relate to me
Someone needs to tell your story
Somebody should write your name in blue
And golden strands of heaven’s glory
Should give the heritage to you (C) Rachel Mayfield
This is just the start for the Rachel Mayfield Group. I can’t wait for the album. The most swinging, flexible but rock solid rhythm section in the Midlands and that crystal-clear voice and those lyrical explorations (like…) a beautiful, romantic dream of something that never was, never will be – in a light better than any light that ever shone – in a land no one can define or remember, only desire…
Buy History Aligned on Bandcamp
Live Dates
14 March 2026 – The Etcetera Theatre, Camden as part of the Women Writers Festival – onstage 3pm
All words Ged Babey except Press release, quotes and lyrics in italics.
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