Swell Maps

Posted by: Not For Me on 05 April 2004

I was just listening to :

Swell Maps in 'Jane from Occupied Europe', made in 1980.

And was pleasantly surprised by how contemporary it sounded. It couls easliy be a current post rock record.

I don't think the same can be said for the Desperate Bicycles and thier other peers though.

DS

OTD - Swell Maps in Jane from Occupied Europe
Posted on: 05 April 2004 by sideshowbob
Ooh, thanks for the reminder.

I shall now immediately play Jane From Occupied Europe and A Trip to Marineville. Haven't listened to either for years, both great as far as I remember. "Midget Submarines" and "Let's Build A Car" especially.

-- Ian
Posted on: 05 April 2004 by Rich Cundill
Only got the singles "Read About Seymour" and.....something else that I can't remember that's in the 7" box in the garage. Must get an LP sometime soon - Jowe Head - genius band!

Rich
Posted on: 05 April 2004 by Not For Me
Rich,

Yes, Read About Seymour is a great record as well! A burst of pure chaotic energy rush from beginning to end.

Ds

OTD - Renegade Soundwave - In Dub
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by willem
The Maps are an absolute favourite. The only album I never found again was the double 'Whatever Happens Next'. I borrowed it from the local library roundabout 1982. There is a CD-version, with less songs on it and an introduction by Thurston Moore.

I adore stuff like 'Gunboats' and 'Midget Submarines'. Dark and broody and extremely playful at the same time. Bands like Television Personality and Half Man Half Biscuit come close, but are perhaps too 'grown up' in comparison.

I also like most of Nikki Sudden's, Jowe Head's and Epic Soundtrack's solo stuff. For those of you who don't know: Epic was Nikki's brother who died way too young.

willem
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by Kevin-W
I was a fan also - great stuff. i think they have to be heard on scratchy 7" vinyl though; they don't really suit the LP, and certainly not the CD, medium.

Once - a thousand or so years ago - saw them play on a bill that also (if I remember correctly) included the mighty joy Division.

Kevin
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by Tim Jones
Such a great band. 'Let's build a car' is one of my all time fave singles and 'Jane...' has some great things on it like 'Helicopter spies'. What was the album before that that's supposed to be even better?

PS Kev - you swine... Eek

Tim
Posted on: 07 April 2004 by Not For Me
The first album proper was 'A Trip to Marineville'

There have also been been a few sets of demos, compilations and oddments about, like Swwep the Desert and Collision Time

DS