Swell Maps

Arguably one of the most influential bands of Post-Punk movement, Britain's Swell Maps began modestly, releasing their short, artistically-inclined pieces via Rough Trade in the mid- to late- '70s. Originally the product of brothers Nikki Sudden and Epic Soundtracks, Swell Maps made the most of distortion and piano by crafting short, cacophonic guitar-driven explorations, sublimely sad instrumentals and everything in between. Compared to such notable avant-gardists as Can and Faust, it made perfect sense that after the band's untimely demise in 1980 drummer/pianist Soundtracks would go on to collaborate with such underground rule breakers as Red Crayola and Crime and the City Solution. Singer/guitarist Nikki Sudden embarked on a solo career, rejoining his brother for the Jacobites - a Swamp-Blues, Velvet Underground-turned-Rolling Stones type of dirge.