Alex Fergusson - Demons

Following Songbook, an intimate guitar and voice album which marked his return after an extended period of silence, Alex Fergusson returns with Demons, a much rockier and punkier affair. A sticker on the sleeve notes his role as a founding member of Alternative TV and Psychic TV, where he crafted the music behind many of the classics of those influential groups.

The album is based around a band line-up that reunites him with Alan Gruner, with whom he has previously worked both solo and in the Cash Pussies and Alternative TV. Demons. isn't a nostalgia trip; but it does feels like a lifetime of musical, personal and cultural memories colliding with buzzing punk guitars, power pop and glam swagger, with a couple of tracks incorporating electronics.

Pop hooks and melodies drop easily into these songs, which roll out as if he has had them stored away for years - which isn't surprising given his history as a songwriter for all manner of labels and acts. Demons, however, sees him upping the riffs and volume for a punchier, punkier approach with a more direct sound that never surfaced on Songbook or his earlier solo albums.

"White light burning bright" Alex Fergusson sings on the opener 'White Heat' sounding at times like Scotland's answer to Lou Reed, capturing memories of a road trip from the USA to the south of France. References to Jane Birkin and jazz legend Django Reinhardt flicker past as it hurtles onwards on buzzing punk riffs, giving the track a restless, cinematic energy. 'Ebony Eyes' leans more into atmosphere, its guitar riff occasionally softened by washes of keyboard, while 'Elementary' kicks back into sharp power-pop/punk territory. Fergusson's vocal even slips into a cheeky East End/Cockney inflection as the track bounces along with little "ooh" harmonies and a lively lead guitar line. The urgency continues with 'Don't Be Late' built around tight power-punk riffs and lyrics about the everyday grind - "run, run, don't be late". It's simple, punchy songwriting delivered with a great sense of humour, that runs throughout the album. A highlight arrives with 'Goddess Ov Love', an ode to Aphrodite riding a buzzing guitar line over a proto-disco rhythm and swelling synths. The chorus is classic Alex Fergusson, with its memorable pop melody, rising through electronic textures.

The second side opens with the title track, 'Demons' which begins with treated vocals and synths before bursting into a glam stomp worthy of Ronson-era Bowie where Fergusson invokes a warning told by Bobbie Gentry on the Tallahatchie bridge. It's a cautionary tale where "the demons are in flight", lyrically referencing Psychic TV's 'Black Moon' from Dreams Less Sweet. More surreal still is 'Dancing With Diablo' a devilish figure who is as Fergusson notes "not a friendly fellow". Some great rhyming couplets such as "Nijinsky moves, Stravinsky grooves" appear alongside nods to Fellini and Mussolini, surfacing through jagged riffs and rhythmic swagger. 'Flashback' provides the album's most nostalgic moment. Driven by memories of a lost love from long ago listening to The Kinks on a "Sunny Afternoon" the song carries a warm melody punctuated by shouted cries of "Flashback" over choppy guitar and subtle keyboards. Shifting to Manhattan after dark with syncopated rhythms and vocoder-styled vocals, 'Disco Nites' recalls New York's club scene. "Never gonna get it back", he sings on a song which is part lament, part celebration of the era while providing a timely reminder of Fergusson's early solo electronic single. The album closes with 'Mutha Fcker' marking a return to Fergusson's punk roots. Scorching guitars, booming bass and pounding drums drive a sneering vocal: "Ain't no lover, you're another motherfucker". It's raw, loud and defiantly unpolished.

For listeners familiar with Fergusson's history in Alternative TV and Psychic TV, Demons. feels like a personal scrapbook set to punky guitars and pop culture references. For everyone else, it's simply a lean, riff-driven album packed with great guitarwork and classic melodicism. And sometimes, that's all the exorcism a record needs. Demons. is available on 10-inch white vinyl from selected shops including Rough Trade and Sister Ray.

We caught up with Alex Fergusson to discuss his return and his most recent releases following the wonderful retrospective boxset curated by Vinyl on Demand Records.

Songbook and Demons mark your first new music in years. At one point, there were even rumours you were dead! Where have you been and what have you been up to?
To answer this question I have to go back to the past. The 80s were incredibly intense and full of activity. When at the end of the the 80s my secret project Ambership for which we had written over 100 songs and also filmed a great video didn't see the light of day due to various reasons I realised I needed a break, I was disillusioned-not with music, but with the music business. I was mainly concentrating on family life after that and only did a few gigs or released a few songs whenever it felt right - this would have probably gone on forever if Frank from VOD records hadn't contacted me and forced me to dig deep into my past as he wanted to release an Alex Fergusson vinyl boxset and in doing so I got the urge to make more new music.

What drew you back to making music after time away? Had you been writing songs during the intervening years or is this something you've only recently returned to?
Well I never left music per se. I just quit being in a band. I was also writing music, some compositions I remember after a few days i kept (many) others I left behind. My Inspiration: stream of conscious automatic writing...strumming guitar coming up with lyrics out of thin air - some autobiographical and others fantasy or mixed together like a tasty smorgasbord. Late 2024 I reconnected with an old friend from Psychic TV tour days, we had lost touch over the years and I wrote 'I Remember' (which features on Songbook) which rekindled memories of things in London that we shared which unleashed an endless faucet of tunes.

Vinyl On Demand recently released the wonderful Alex Fergusson - Secret Recordings 1976-1992 box set, covering everything from The Nobodies, Cash Pussies, Alternative TV, Psychic TV, Ambership, and a selection of your solo work. How did it feel to see such a comprehensive retrospective of your work so carefully compiled?
I felt it opened a Pandora's box as I forgot how many songs were existing. naturally the back catalog of early songs were limited but from the eighties on there were still tons of Psychic TV and Ambership (my secret project) songs. It was quite challenging to make selections. I even found a song with Chris Carter I had completely forgotten about. My friend from schooldays Sandy Robertson could not believe that there was a few songs from our early project The Nobodies existing. Sandy wrote the foreword to the booklet that came with the vinyl boxset. He was already very ill and it was very emotional when I gave him the finished box. He died shortly after. I wrote the music for all these songs It was a real journey through time. Kudos to Frank and VOD who invested a lot of time and effort into it.

Can you tell us about your performance at the Vinyl On Demand festival?
Frank / VOD asked me to be involved when he was putting on the festival. First I thought it was a meet and greet but soon realised i had to do a bit more. My set consisted of basically Psychic TV songs I did do 'Action Time Vision' also 2 songs of Songbook: 'I Remember' and 'Life More Life'. Some of the songs I never played live before. The set went like a dream - crowd participation on 'Godstar'...angels of VOD...was fun, amazing singalong. Originally I was supposed to play outside but the god of thunder decided to rain. It pissed down. There was also lightning so for safety reasons I was transferred inside to the main hall - better for me, better acoustics. I also had to cut the set short as there was a time deadline and there was another band on after me.

Songbook is a solo album featuring just voice and acoustic guitar. How did it come about? And how did you connect with Glass Modern?
In early 2025 I recorded a lot of songs onto my phone as my 4 track broke down and couldn't get fixed. Grant McPhee put me in touch with David Barker / Glass Modern and he liked the primitive "Nebraska" (his description) recordings. I gave him a bunch of tunes and he chose thirteen songs for the album.

Demons feels like something of a return to your punk roots. What inspired the release and what were the main influences behind it?
I wrote a ton of songs last year, hundreds, different styles: ballads and rocks types. I guess Songbook featured candid lyrical themes songs that suited vocals guitar strum. But I had other songs that required bass and drums. So by the end of August / September I reconnected with Cash Pussies bass player Alan Gruner (he also co-wrote 'Stay With Me Tonight'...played synth) he's a fantastic bass player. I seen him playing in a band just a couple of years ago in Hampstead where I met the band's drummer Pat Leacock who knows Beggars & Co who played horns on 'Ov Power'. Both Alan and Pat are session guys types, professionals. I'm not, lol.

The sticker on the sleeve notes that you were a founding member of Alternative TV and Psychic TV. How do you feel your role in those bands has been recognised over the years?
Well with ATV fans still acknowledge 'Action Time Vision'. I guess that one stood the test of time. I wrote the music for it. With Psychic TV, I guess 'Godstar' and 'The Orchids' are the ones that are liked most. I wrote the music for all these songs. All Psychic TV music featured on the VOD live box I wrote the music. It's amazing people still like the old songs and are still interested in what I do.

I noticed Alan Gruner (Cash Pussies, Alternative TV) in the credits. It's great to see you working together again. How did that reunion happen? Who else plays on Demons?
Alan Gruner on bass / keyboards, Pat Leacock on drums, and myself vocals/guitar (Mellotron couple of songs). It was recorded in 10 days over a period of two months when I could get the studio time.

A while back, you guested with Alternative TV at the Fourth Dimension event at Café OTO. How did it feel to reunite with Mark Perry for that show?
By chance I bumped into Mark P in the west end I hadn't seen him since the 1990's. He mentioned he was playing Café Oto the following day and asked me if I would like to play one number as guest appearance. It was great to reconnect. Mark's kept the ATV name alive for centuries.

There's a Psychick Cross on the cover of Demons. What's the story behind that?
Well summer 2025 I had a dream of Genesis P-Orridge (no, it wasn't a nightmare) where he said I should get back to my punk roots and do a guitar rock album. On completion of Demons I thought of using Psychic TV name. I mean everyone's dead. I'm the last one standing apart from Paula. I formed Psychic TV with Genesis P-Orridge in 1981 originally it was going to be a Genesis P-Orridge solo album with me supplying songs but both Gen and me came up with the name Psychic TV (the TV part coming from my ex band Alternative TV). About six months later in 1982 Peter Christopherson got involved and Psychic TV morphed into something else. Anyway, I couldn't be bothered with any legal scenario that may occur and dropped the Psychic TV name from the Demons album cover but kept the cross.

Do you think you'll release material from your archive of Psychic TV recordings?
Well Frank / VOD in 2023 wanted to put out a massive Psychic TV live box (totally huge) including my Psychic TV outtakes from Force the Hand of Chance and Dreams Less Sweet but in 2024 he came up with the VOD festival idea. So ya never know...dreams made become real.

What's next for you? Live shows? More new recordings?
I plan to make another guitar-driven album, as I have 10 more songs ready. I'll be recording in the studio in May/June 2026.

Alex Fergusson - Songbook is available from Glass Modern Bandcamp
Alex Fergusson - Secret Recordings 1976-1992 is available from Vinyl On Demand Records

Our extensive article piecing together the history of the Scottish musician told through an expanded review of the Vinyl On Demand boxset.

Video for 'Goddess Ov Love' made by Tony Drayton (editor of seminal zines Ripped and Torn and Kill Your Pet Puppy).