Some musicians follow a clearly defined path, while others seem to treat their entire career as an opportunity to explore. Simon Baughen belongs firmly in the second category. From his early days with SA in the 1980s to his latest solo releases and live performances in Bristol, his music has travelled through a remarkable range of styles. What connects it all is an obvious enthusiasm for songwriting and a willingness to keep moving forward.

The early years provide an intriguing foundation. SA developed a sound described as “Joy Division meets the New Romantics,” before Baughen and Jerome Clough formed The Extremes. Their music combined aggression with melody, resulting in the EPs “Eat My Dust” and “Car Crash Music.” The releases earned airplay internationally, including Belgium, France, and US college radio. Baughen’s 1989 solo album then took him in a new direction, embracing the influence of New York new wave and ending with the atmospheric ten-minute instrumental “The Thief of New York.”

His return to music with Indigo Club in 2012 proved that the creative spark had never disappeared. “Savage Soul” became a standout, accumulating 24,000 Spotify streams and developing into a blues rock favourite. Following the band’s dissolution in 2020, Baughen continued to collaborate, including performances with country musician Chester “Crowbar” Crockford. His current work with Sue Cohen and Steven Greer under the Indigo Club name has continued the momentum, with “Sequela” reaching 29,000 streams.

The most impressive aspect of Baughen’s recent output may be its sheer variety. His solo releases since 2020 have explored love, loss, nostalgia, social concerns, and the passage of time. “Heart of the Sun” brings a retro psychedelic punk edge, while “In the City of Angels” tackles climate change. “Miss Jennifer Jones” draws on 1960s pop rock, while “Coast to Coast” and the EP “To Grow Old With You” reveal another side of his songwriting. Rather than recreating the past, Baughen seems to revisit different musical eras and reshape them in his own voice.

His return to the SA55 material on “Four Lost Songs of 82” feels particularly fitting. The standout “Jealousy,” which has reached 29,000 streams, connects his present work directly to the beginning of his musical story. Yet there is nothing static about Baughen’s career. His continuing appearances on the Bristol Open Mic scene, either alone or with The Spring Green Trio, show an artist who remains firmly engaged with live music. Simon Baughen is not simply looking back on his musical history. He is continuing to add to it.

PR: Danielle Holian, Decent Music PR