Sudden Sway | |
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| Origin | Peterborough, England |
| Genres | Art pop,new wave,post-punk,synthpop |
| Years active | 1980–1990 |
| Labels | Chant,Blanco y Negro,Rough Trade |
| Past members | Michael McGuire Pete Jostins Simon Childs |
Sudden Sway were an English band andconceptual art collective fromPeterborough, formed in 1980. They recorded two sessions forJohn Peel and released three albums before splitting up in the early 1990s.
The band was formed in 1980 by Mike McGuire (vocals) and Steve Rolls (guitar) after disbanding first generation punk bandthe Now. They recruited Pete Jostins (bass), Shaun Foreman (guitar/keyboards) and Colin Meech (drums), with various others contributing in their early days.[1] Whilst were initially influenced by fairly standard indie bands of the day such asA Certain Ratio andShriekback, their work gradually took on an idiosyncratic bent, incorporating elements ofradio drama,science fiction andconceptual art, where they often presented themselves as more of a company or product than a conventional band.[1] Their first releases were two self-financed singles, "Jane's Third Party" and theTo You, with RegardEP, in 1980 and 1981 respectively. The latter was recorded with the core line up of McGuire and Jostins plus new guitarist Simon Childs. Together with two well receivedJohn Peel radio seasons, they were sufficiently successful to attract major-label interest fromCBS andVirgin Records.
After a further single "The Traffic Tax Scheme", which came in an unusual elongated package containing a computer program for theZX Spectrum, on their own Chant label, they signed a deal with Warner's subsidiaryBlanco y Negro, debuting on the label in 1986 with eight versions of the single "Sing Song".[1] After releasing theSpacemate package - a double LP, book, poster, set of cards and instruction manual, packaged together in a soap box container and designed byJon Wozencroft, the band moved on to indie labelRough Trade Records, where they would stay for the rest of their career. Their fondness for short songs was evident on their first Rough Trade release, a 7-inch EP featuring eight, one minute songs and titledAutumn Cut Back Job Lot Offer, released in early 1987. The following year, they released their second album, '76 Kids Forever, which they described as a "soap opera musical". The band continued (minus Simon Childs) for one final effort, 1990'sKo-Opera album, a very different proposition as they utilized contemporary dance beats to deconstruct early '90s consumerism. This was to be their swan song with the band splitting up soon after, with an unheard and unreleased album in the can.
The band recorded two sessions for John Peel'sBBC Radio 1 programme, in 1983 ("Let's Evolve", "Relationships") and 1984 ("A Walk in the Park", "Problem-Solving Broadcasts 1-3", "T Minus Tranquility"); the first released as an EP in 1986.[2] They also made an appearance onWhistle Test, performing "Packet of Vacuum", "Father I Do" and “Gary Guerilla, Household Militia", plus an appearance on C4'sNight Network, playing "Solo Store Detective Man".
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