How thick are they?! I gotta get that box, cuz I have the Alive LPs, too.
― Vic Funk, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 11:17 (nineteen years ago) link
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:03 (nineteen years ago) link
― Marco Damiani (Marco D.), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:24 (nineteen years ago) link
Did they reissue them on vinyl??
― Nic de Teardrop (Nicholas), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:29 (nineteen years ago) link
Okay, clarification time -- as I mentioned way above, I have the Mute reissues of Train, Jane and Marineville plus the Collision Time Revisited comp, so what exactly am I missing that's not included on those four?
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:34 (nineteen years ago) link
― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:37 (nineteen years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:37 (nineteen years ago) link
This should probably go on the music for running thread since this reminds me I go running to the S'Maps all the time.
― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:04 (nineteen years ago) link
They don't remind me much of Can at all. The closest Can got to the noisy experimentalism of Swell Maps is the second half of Tago Mago. That seems to be what the Maps were trying for on Jane, though with more attitude and less musicality.
― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:17 (nineteen years ago) link
― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:21 (nineteen years ago) link
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:35 (nineteen years ago) link
I was never quite sure if that was Blam! or not in that ad, couldn't quite believe it myself and wasted a lot of time searching message boards commercials trying to get confirmation.
Anyhoo, Swell Maps = total classic. The reissues are fantastic. When I first heard Collision Time Revisited I couldn't understand how I'd never heard of this band before (and the only reason I even heard that was because a Sonic Youth obsessed friend picked it up for Thurston Moore's liner notes), then I tried to actually find some of their music. It took me over four years to finally find a battered copy of Marineville and even then I could only get it by trading stuff.
― Graeme (Graeme), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:35 (nineteen years ago) link
― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:40 (nineteen years ago) link
― Bimble... (Bimble...), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:44 (nineteen years ago) link
Actually, that does make sense.
― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:00 (nineteen years ago) link
Still no sign of a Whatever Happens Next... reissue. That's a crime.
I simply do not understand why more people don't know about this band.
― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:11 (nineteen years ago) link
― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:43 (nineteen years ago) link
What bonus tracks do the SC reissues have the the Mute ones don't?
Because, to me, it seems pointless to get the SC reissues, since the Mute issues have tons more bonus tracks... and I was assuming the stuff on the Alive comps would cover the bonus track material on the SC reissues, but I could be wrong!
Bimble, you should get one of the Alive comps.. either International Rescue or Sweep The Desert will do... The former is more garagey, and the latter is more "proto-indie". Both are mutually exclusive, and make good cheap primers.
― donut debonair (donut), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:49 (nineteen years ago) link
― What we want? Sex with T.V. stars! What you want? Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 19:48 (nineteen years ago) link
Marineville: Loin of the SurfDoctor at CakeSteven DoesBronze and Baby Shoes
Jane:The Stairs Are Like an AvalancheNew York
Also, the remastering (done in 2003 by Nikki Sudden and John Rivers) fucking RULES RULES and RULES.
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 20:13 (nineteen years ago) link
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 20:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 20:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― Wandering Boy Poet, Thursday, 31 March 2005 09:56 (nineteen years ago) link
― D. Bachyrycz, Thursday, 31 March 2005 11:47 (nineteen years ago) link
Ripped & TornInternational RescueLoin of the SurfShoot the AngelsElephant Flowers (no. 2)Turn Me On Dead ManBronze & Baby Shoesnevertoseeanyotherway
― Vic Funk, Thursday, 31 March 2005 21:52 (nineteen years ago) link
― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 31 March 2005 22:35 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 31 March 2005 22:40 (nineteen years ago) link
'New York' may well be one the best songs ever as well.
Shame about their horrendously disorganised re-issue/compilation protocol though.
― Sasha (sgh), Friday, 1 April 2005 01:51 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ferlin Husky (noodle vague), Friday, 1 April 2005 01:56 (nineteen years ago) link
It's on the Internation Rescue CD (but not the LP configuration).
― Vic Funk, Friday, 1 April 2005 04:37 (nineteen years ago) link
― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 1 April 2005 06:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― That One Guy (That One Guy), Sunday, 26 June 2005 03:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― That One Guy (That One Guy), Sunday, 26 June 2005 04:04 (eighteen years ago) link
BUT,,,,,,,is there anyone w/any knowledge about the never-released Daga Daga Daga lp by Soundtracks and Head? there's that fantastic 12" on Rough Trade--Rain Rain Rain, and a track or two on Collision Time Revisited... to the best of my knowledge the 12" has never been issued on cd, which is a shame! anyway, love to hear more of these sessions!!
― nerve pylon (flat_of_angles), Monday, 19 December 2005 00:18 (eighteen years ago) link
― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 19 December 2005 18:14 (eighteen years ago) link
― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 19 December 2005 18:28 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Monday, 19 December 2005 18:43 (eighteen years ago) link
― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Monday, 19 December 2005 19:12 (eighteen years ago) link
Well, FUCK. I guess I shouldn't have sold my old Mute CDs. To the used bins!
― sleeve (sleeve), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 02:49 (eighteen years ago) link
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 April 2006 19:42 (eighteen years ago) link
1 International Rescue2 Black Velvet (remix)3 Forest Fire4 One Of The Crowd5 Winter Rainbow (Armadillo) I don't see 2 or 4 on any of the other records. Yet another headache for SM completists... Now I'm wondering what's on the Munster vinyl of Jane!
Also, this website is pretty useful:
http://www.televisionpersonalities.co.uk/jowe/swell.htm
― sleeve (sleeve), Sunday, 21 May 2006 13:56 (seventeen years ago) link
― sleeve (sleeve), Sunday, 21 May 2006 14:52 (seventeen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 15:41 (seventeen years ago) link
― M T (BlackIronPrison), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link
really loving this right now. sending this thread to the top!
― htshell, Sunday, 10 February 2008 01:19 (sixteen years ago) link
Amazing band, of course...but this Wastrels and Whippersnappers CD comp that just came out is a snooze. It kinda re-imagines them as an experimental punk band with none of the pop that made them great.
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Sunday, 10 February 2008 01:39 (sixteen years ago) link
What everyone says, once again. Hmmm. Should dig them out again.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 10 February 2008 01:51 (sixteen years ago) link
agreed... the appeal is the parallel universes they could easily inhabit... only one half at a time would be short changing...
― msp, Sunday, 10 February 2008 05:25 (sixteen years ago) link
that Wastrels CD sure does suck, agreed. guess there was no bottom left in the barrel.
I just turned some musician friends on to them and they are way into it.
― sleeve, Sunday, 10 February 2008 07:18 (sixteen years ago) link
Anyone have further info on the new "Mayday Signals" release: https://www.discogs.com/Swell-Maps-MayDay-Signals/release/18527167
Such as - are these demos, single versions, wot?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 3 May 2021 03:19 (two years ago) link
It was mentioned in the Rolling Reissues thread recently, I don’t recall how much info there was…
― BeardsleyCollege.edu (morrisp), Monday, 3 May 2021 03:50 (two years ago) link
‘Mayday Signals’ by Swell Maps is a compilation of previously unreleased material. One of two surviving members, Jowe Head, has plundered his archives to find a whole host of treasures by the influential DIY punk band. Among the highlights are demo versions of ‘Read About Seymour’ and ‘Dresden Style’.
― CP Radio Gorgeous (Colonel Poo), Monday, 3 May 2021 10:18 (two years ago) link
Not seeing a cd version which would have been handy. But so would Cherry Red compiling one of its Punk multi-lp cd sets on the band.There were cd remasters of the 2 main lps on Secretly Canadian a few years ago but it was mainly the non remastered Mute version that was visibly around.
― Stevolende, Monday, 3 May 2021 10:58 (two years ago) link
Hrm, not much detail there. We'll have to see what comes with the physical product.
Rough Trade list a CD version: https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/swell-maps/mayday-signals (Yah I'm still buying CDs, too, fwiw).
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 3 May 2021 15:22 (two years ago) link
"Whatever Happens Next (Acoustic)"
would check out for this and a few others fer sure
― andrew m., Monday, 3 May 2021 15:48 (two years ago) link
yeah found a cd version on Easy Action's site after searching.
― Stevolende, Monday, 3 May 2021 16:14 (two years ago) link
Discogs has the Mute version of teh cds listed as RM which i thought was remastered. Ones i have say 1989 on th eback, not that the 2 are mutually exclusive just would prefer a fresher transfer.THink I found some cheapish copies of teh other remaster though.
― Stevolende, Monday, 3 May 2021 16:17 (two years ago) link
I recall some grumbling from somewhere on interwebs that the Mute cds had some reverb added as well. Not sure if that is trur but comparing select tracks to the International Rescue comp they do sound "roomier".So, yes, to fresh transfers....and a cd copy of Whatever Happens Next with extra peel sessions.
― ringworm, Wednesday, 5 May 2021 15:38 (two years ago) link
Ok, in case anyone else has been confused by their catalog, here's what I've discovered:
The 1991 Mute CD reissues of "A Trip To Marineville", "In Jane From Occupied Europe" and "Train Out Of It" collect almost all of their officially released catalog. These are the tracks that aren't included:Steven Does - from the 7" that came with "Jane"English Verse / Monologues - from "Real Shocks" 7"St. Saviour's Road / Blues No. 2: Beatle Bonfire / Fashion Cult / Texas - from "Collision Time Revisited"Black Velvet (remix) / Dresden Style - from "International Rescue"Cave Mines - from "Sweep The Desert"
Not yet officially released are 3 Peel sessions from 1978-80. These are great, someone should put them out. I've also got a couple of tracks they did for WMRS in 1979.
"Mayday Signals" is entirely previously unreleased material as far as I can tell. A couple of these tracks ("Armadillo", "Bandits 1-5") later appeared on a Peel session. Others are demo or alternate versions: "City Boys - Dresden Style", "Fashion Cult", "International Rescue", "Off The Beach", "Ripped And Torn", "Vertical Slum", "Whatever Happens Next", "Read About Seymour"There's lots of short bits (12 tracks are 1:30 or less), a bunch of noise collages that aren't my taste, and then there's some great new songs, which are. I'll likely cherry pick the best stuff for my digital library.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 6 May 2021 21:34 (two years ago) link
"Armadillo" presumably = Winter Rainbow (on the International Rescue comp)
― Adoration of the Mogwai (Deflatormouse), Thursday, 6 May 2021 21:54 (two years ago) link
Idk, I can think of several songs unaccounted for here but would have to compare tracklists to be sure
― Adoration of the Mogwai (Deflatormouse), Thursday, 6 May 2021 22:01 (two years ago) link
Yeah, that list is missing stuff :)
I don't know this release, but wonder if there's some overlap with the new one:https://www.discogs.com/Swell-Maps-Whatever-Happens-Next/release/1499935
― Adoration of the Mogwai (Deflatormouse), Thursday, 6 May 2021 22:50 (two years ago) link
Ok, I wasn't aware of that double LP. or another demos and whatnot released called "Wastrels And Whippersnappers". Looks like the barrel still needs scraping...
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 7 May 2021 02:40 (two years ago) link
Well like for example 'Winter Rainbow' is not on one of those 3 CD's but but you didn't list it among the songs on International Rescue that is not on one of those CD's. And there are others.
Tbf it looks like it was included on a later reish of Marineville (not on Mute)
― Adoration of the Mogwai (Deflatormouse), Friday, 7 May 2021 05:53 (two years ago) link
Ah, my mistake, that's because I have it as part of a bootleg radio sessions comp.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 7 May 2021 14:19 (two years ago) link
Whatever Happens Next desperately needs a reissue IMHO
― "Gaspar? No way." (sleeve), Friday, 7 May 2021 16:50 (two years ago) link
Honestly I think they need a definitive box set, the catalog isn't that huge that it wouldn't be feasible and every time their albums get reissued things get left off and the catalog becomes even more confusing.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 7 May 2021 18:55 (two years ago) link
Have hoped taht Cherry Red might do one of its punk era boxes on them. Seem to be some good ones around.
― Stevolende, Friday, 7 May 2021 20:01 (two years ago) link
https://thequietus.com/articles/30006-swell-maps-interview
"Head has spent the ensuing months working on two Swell Maps archive albums – Mayday Signals...
...and a collection of the band's three sessions for John Peel's radio show"
YES
― ringworm, Tuesday, 25 May 2021 07:35 (two years ago) link
So got the Secretly Canadian Jane yesterday and may get the SC Marineville.But now need to get the Mute bonus material if I can. Is that out anywhere else.Would love a Cherry Red compilation of the 2 main lps and whatever.
― Stevolende, Friday, 4 June 2021 00:08 (two years ago) link
I don't think the bonus Mute tracks are anywhere else - see upthread for more extensive analysis
― sleeve, Friday, 4 June 2021 00:25 (two years ago) link
happy to YSI, just ILXmail me
― sleeve, Friday, 4 June 2021 00:26 (two years ago) link
I am now a member of Swell Maps. We are playing 2 nights in December Cafe OTO. My teenage self would be cockahoop.— Luke Haines Rock N Roll (@LukeHaines_News) October 6, 2021
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 6 October 2021 18:16 (two years ago) link
Also starring David Callaghan from the Wolfhounds - perhaps a more appropriate recruit.
― everything, Wednesday, 6 October 2021 18:28 (two years ago) link
Wuh....? Without Nikki and Epic, isn't it more like a Swell Maps tribute band? I mean, still, I'd pay to see Luke and Dave and Jowe play together.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 6 October 2021 18:42 (two years ago) link
yeah — seems very odd to be calling it Swell Maps. Could be good, though?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 6 October 2021 18:44 (two years ago) link
Are we sure that Haines is not taking the piss?
― everything, Wednesday, 6 October 2021 19:18 (two years ago) link
I guess "Jowe Head Plays the Music of Swell Maps" doesn't sell as many tickets as calling it Swell Maps, is the reality behind this decision.
― starship blooper (Matt #2), Wednesday, 6 October 2021 19:20 (two years ago) link
Here's the details
It's a bit like when the Bonzo Dog Band did those gigs with dozens of guests and half the surviving band.
― everything, Wednesday, 6 October 2021 19:21 (two years ago) link
Jowe Head Swell Maps book incoming:
https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/jowe-head/swell-maps-1972-1980
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Sunday, 16 January 2022 21:11 (two years ago) link
edition of only 1000 copies btw, and comes with a 7" of unreleased material
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Sunday, 16 January 2022 21:12 (two years ago) link