Swell Maps

United Kingdom, 1972–1980

Birmingham DIY group active 1972–1980, as likely to hurtle through 90 seconds of adrenalised rock and roll as to break into eight-minute experimental jams with vacuum cleaners and xylophones. Their scrappy home-made post-punk ('Read About Seymour') became a template for American lo-fi indie a decade later.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Swell Maps and 1 artist Swell Maps influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Swell Maps?

• T. Rex — Marc Bolan's T. Rex glam was an early spark for Swell Maps, who formed as teenagers idolising him.
• Can — German krautrock — Can above all — drove Swell Maps' long experimental jams.
• Faust — Faust's tape-collage experimentalism is a direct model for Swell Maps' DIY chaos.

Which artists did Swell Maps influence?

• Pavement — Swell Maps' DIY post-punk is stamped across Pavement's early records — cited by both Malkmus and Kannberg.