Swell Maps burned brightly for only a short period of time releasing music together between 1977 and 1980. Their three John Peel Sessions from 1978, 1979 and 1980 have been remastered are now available on CD and digitally via Mute Records and are essential listening alongside the two albums they released. Despite their short existence and lack of commercial success their music was a major influence on several notable bands including Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Pavement.
Swell Maps was formed in the bedrooms of two brothers Kevin and Adrian Godfrey (better known as Epic Soundtracks and Nikki Sudden) in 1972. The band did not release music together until 1977 with their first self-release creating their own label – the single ‘Read About Seymour’ included here. The band were known for their ability to freely mix genres including glam, krautrock and post punk creating their own unique sound.
The 1978 Peel Session kicks off with ‘International Rescue’ with and urgent need for escape “Is this what you are living for? Can’t you see there’s so much more..” The feeling of being young and searching for something more and anxiety about the future “17 and another year, never thought it would happen here” all in a little over two minutes. ‘Harmony in your bathroom’ follows sounding heavier with the song breaking down at the end into something more primal. The excitement of being young and alive is captured in the lines “she said something about wanting to jump and shout, she gets a real charge from the radio.” Their first single ‘Read about Seymour’ is a classic with it’s chaotic, unhinged, brief oddness. The final track ‘Full moon/Blam!/Full Moon (reprise)’ with stretched out vocals sounds loose, louche and menacing like The Stooges.
The second John Peel session from 1979 is generally a fuller sounding recording as the band continued to develop their musical style. ‘Armadillo’ with the chorus “when you’re alone, don’t be alone” is brilliant sounding like an unhinged Gang of Four with it’s call and response of “Armadillo!” is a declaration of joy (and one of my personal favorites). ‘Vertical Slum/Forest Fire’ is more frantic and nonsensical with the added horns and punk beat pulling you along. ‘Midget Submarine’ continues in a similar vein squawking and caterwauling away. Generally the second Peel session sounds like the band developing their style and being unafraid to expand and explore songs in a slightly different way.
Their final John Peel session in 1980 demonstrates that Swell Maps as they were exploring new musical styles which perhaps highlights the band member’s having different views on the direction they should be taking. The band broke up in the middle of their tour of Italy in 1980 following the release of their second album Jane from Occupied Europe. ‘Big Empty Field’ is an instrumental. ‘Bleep and Booster come round for tea/Secret Island’ has a piano intro leading into a more mainstream sounding song than much of the rest of this collection. ‘Let’s buy a bridge’ is a return to the noisy, chaos of earlier songs introduced with the line “once more with feeling'” and just about holding itself together for the short duration. ‘Helicopter Spies/A Raincoat’s Room’ sounds like a guideline for Pavement and similar bands.
The third Peel session showing what might have developed had the band stayed together but also demonstrates the differing approaches that were developing in the band. Fortunately members of the band carried on making music which was as wonderful as Swell Maps. Following the dissolution of Swell Maps the brothers collaborated with and released their own music until their untimely deaths (Epic Soundtracks in 1997 and Nikki Sudden in 2006). The spirit of Swell Maps carries on with live collaborations led by Jowe Head (founder member) and fellow musicians aiming at capturing their frenetic energy and bringing this tremendous music to a new audience. They will be playing The Lexington in London on 24/10/2025 if you want to celebrate Swell Maps “once more with feeling“!
Swell Maps: Website | Facebook
The Swell Maps are playing at The Lexington, London on Friday 24th October. Tickets through DICE.
Reviewed by Jason McDonald @jaygigphotos.bsky.social
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