New Wave Outpost Forum

Over the years of posting on this board, there is one band that keeps coming back in my head and I have never heard of them, but for some odd reason everytime I visit the board I am reminded of this band, who are they? What is their best song? I am very interested in hearing something by them so let me know and I am going to listen to it.

Sire did their best to promote this band in and around 87', in-store play and displays (Tower Records), compilation CD's, etc. That's how I discovered them. They fit in real well with a handful of other Sire bands from the late 80's, including the likes of Ocean Blue, which had some success. Maybe they didn't put in the touring necessary to make a splash stateside. I always considered them a tier-3 band, but many here will disagree.

Anyhoo they made a huge splash in the Philippines which is why they have so much exposure on this board.


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If you like lispy fey lightweight sugarpop, you'll like them.

The Wild Swans were formed in 1980 shortly after Paul Simpson left The Teardrop Explodes. The band later split up into Care (P. Simpson +Ian Brodie)and Lotus Eaters.

This is as you can tell a band well worth listening to.
Maybe "Bringing home the ashes" is the best album

Their best song in my opinion is Whirlpool Heart. Basically, a light guitar band with nice male vocals. If you like the following bands, you should like or love The Wild Swans. They don't sound exactly the same but if you record them on the same cd, it would flow.

The Lotus Eaters
The Ocean Blue
Fiction Factory
The Lightning Seeds
The Mighty Lemon Drops

The Wild Swans are best described detailing their three stages:

1981-1985 - Incandescent

Regarded as their best work. Made up of Paul Simpson's deep, melodramatic and very English vocals, Jeremy Kelly's chiming, flamenco on speed guitar, and Gerard Quinn's icy cold keyboards. The many bass players included Rolo McGinty, later of The Woodentops. Pete DeFreitas of The Bunnymen produced and drummed on the Revolutionary Spirit/God Forbid single, which are two amazing songs. The Incandescent release covers this period with loving detail.

Best songs:

Revolutionary Spirit
God Forbid
Opium
No Bleeding
Enchanted
Miracle Heart

1987 - Bringing Home The Ashes

After breaking up, The Wild Swans reformed, this time without Quinn, who concentrated on his art career. This time they graced a major label, Sire, and had their biggest success with Bringing Home The Ashes. The sound is more streamlined this time around; Simpson's vocals are more subdued, Kelly's guitar loses a lot of his chime, and the pounding drums are very loud in the mix, losing a lot of the character in comparison to the drum sound of earlier recordings.

Still, it is a strong set of songs, and Young Manhood became somewhat of a college radio hit. This is a good starting point if you want to get familiar with the band.

Best songs:

Young Manhood
Bitterness
Whirlpool Heart
Now And Forever

1990 - Space Flower

Get on, get on, get on, get on, get on the Groovy Train. Yes, Space Flower is a drastic style change from BHTA. Only Simpson remains from the original lineup; guests include Ian Broudie, Chris Sharrock, and Ian McNabb. The songs this time around sound like The Farm/Happy Mondays/other bands of their ilk, with a serious food fixation (see full song title list). I am not much of a fan of Space Flower; it's listenable, but nowhere near as good as their earlier work. The notable exception is the stunningly good Immaculate, which could have been the best song on BHTA.

In short, get Incandescent for their best stuff (and read the extensive liner notes for a good history lesson) and the new Magnitude release covers their more accessable period.

Now were talking. My favorite band. From Liverpool. Considered a new wave classic here in Manila with songs like Whirlpool Heart and Bringing Home The Ashes. With paul's Haunting voice and cool guitar riffs, this band never bore me maybe evn after 90 years.

Got their Bringing Home The Ashes album, with Kelly of Lotus Eaters on bass, then Space Flower album which reunites Paul with Broudie (they were together during The Care ). Check out Im A Lighthouse and Immaculate. This album though is a bit more funky. And this was their last album.

Incandescet wasnt released here but im hoping Magnitude will. Lots o compilation here but nowhere can i find No Bleedin, A World Of Milk And Blood and God Forbid (my fave).

They are rumoured to be working on a new album.

Wild Swans...a great overlooked, ignored band IMO.


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[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
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Anyhoo they made a huge splash in the Philippines which is why they have so much exposure on this board.


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That would be me i suppose. [:D]

Try this one guys. Its not that bad compared to other bands i read o this forum. Glok never like them but listened to them after reading my post and he said he like them already. [:D]


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I always thought Wildswans were a Smiths clone? Vocals sounded like Morrissey.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Judas101[/i]
<br>I always thought Wildswans were a Smiths clone? Vocals sounded like Morrissey.
[/quote]

The Wild Swans first single predates the Smiths debut album by at least three years. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Mozz honed his voice by singing along to Revolutionary Spirit.

[quote][i]Originally posted by empyrean[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
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Anyhoo they made a huge splash in the Philippines which is why they have so much exposure on this board.


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[/quote]

That would be me i suppose. [:D]

Try this one guys. Its not that bad compared to other bands i read o this forum. Glok never like them but listened to them after reading my post and he said he like them already. [:D]


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[/quote]

I have to say that I missed out on a great '80s band with The Wild Swans... early tunes I like more than the later songs, and I have to agree with Spindlebrook, that "Revolutionary Spirit" and "God Forbid" are two really amazing songs.

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Whenever I see the name "wild swans" I always think about swansway.
http://www.scarlet-fantastic.co.uk/swan ... nsway.html
I guess I'm a little more familiar with them.

eno.....then<img src="http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/brian_eno/thennow.gif">now

Actually, Wild Swans never really made an impact in my country. I bet only 10% of the population knew about the band. Only the few Filipino Wavers knew them and we all agree that this is a great band.

Wild Swans is probably the best overlooked new wave group. But we like it that way. The feeling of knowing a band that nobody knew about makes us proud in a way.

but its just in the Philippines. [:D]


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