Influenced by the disparate likes of T. Rex and the German progressive outfit Can, they created a new soundscape that would be heavily mined by others in the post-punk era. Despite existing in various forms since 1972, Swell Maps only really came together as a musical entity after the birth of British punk rock.
Consisting of brothers Epic Soundtracks (real name Kevin Godfrey) and Nikki Sudden (real name Nicholas Godfrey) two Solihull based teenagers, plus Richard Earl, David Barrington, John Cockrill and Jowe Head, the band cut the single "Read About Seymour" as their debut in 1977, soon after the brothers left Solihull School (also home of Spizzenergi). It is widely considered one of the classic punk era singles. Epic's drumming mixed with Nikki's unique melodies crafted over the assorted threads cast by the six musicians set the band apart from the others. After recording their first John Peel session Swell Maps went into WMRS studio to record their first album A Trip to Marineville, which was released in 1979. With hard rocking punk numbers like "H.S. Art" interspersed by ambient instrumentals and other experimental interludes like "Gunboats", the album marked the band out as innovative non-musicians. The album went #1 on the new Independent chart.
The band cut one more album, The Swell Maps in 'Jane From Occupied Europe', in 1980, which pushed further into post-punk territory. They displayed their ingenuity for creating everything from industrial surf instrumentals like the opener "Robot Factory" to perverse ballads like "Cake Shop Girl". Even while they were falling apart during these sessions they were pushing the musical boundaries beyond what punk originally had to offer. They sought to release much of their early forays in lo-fi experimenation in the compilation, Whatever Happens Next..., before splitting up.
Since their split the legend of the Swell Maps has grown, through their influence on the C86 bands, lo-fi, and other pioneers like Sonic Youth and Pavement. Individual members of the band (especially Nikki Sudden, Epic Soundtracks and Jowe Head) went on to solo careers. The band's catalogue has recently been remastered and reissued and further dips into their archives can be expected. An EP of especially zany tracks was released under the name of the Phones Sportsman Band in 1980. After an interval of over 25 years away from music, the Phones Sportsman Band has now reformed in January 2008.
Epic Soundtracks died of unknown causes at the age of 37 in 1997 and Nikki Sudden died in March 2006.
Cake Shop
Swell Maps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dead long and rather sharp.
They paint them glace cherry red
and yellow marzipan.
Scoring lines upon the backs Of tender chocolate mice
I would like to buy a wedding cake for you and me!
You've always been a cake shop girl as far as I recall
Cake shop girl, oh cake shop girl I'd fall on bended knees
I should like to buy a wedding cake for you and me.
Confectioners don't eat a thing
That's made inside their shops.
Bottles of crushed beetle
Can be bought to turn things red.
Window front displays are made
For only perfect things,
I should like to substitute a cake for you and me
The lyrics to Swell Maps' song "Cake Shop" describe the peculiarities and secrets of a cake shop, specifically the appearance of the girls who work there. The girls are described as growing long, sharp fingernails that they paint in bright colors to resemble cherry and marzipan. The lyrics go on to describe how the girls use their nails to score lines on the backs of chocolate mice, which gives the listener an eerie image. The chorus then declares the singer's desire to purchase a wedding cake for himself and the cake shop girl.
The second verse seems to recount a personal history between the singer and the cake shop girl. The line "You've always been a cake shop girl as far as I recall" suggests that the singer has a long-standing relationship with the girl. Additionally, the mention of ballroom dancer miniatures and cherokees implies that the girl has eclectic tastes that the singer admires. The chorus repeats, calling the girl to mind and restating the desire to purchase a wedding cake for the two of them.
Overall, the song's lyrics convey a sense of otherworldliness and quirkiness that is often associated with cake shops. The vivid descriptions of the girls' appearances and actions create a sense of both fascination and unease in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Cake shop girls grow fingernails
Women who work at cake shops have long and sharp fingernails
Dead long and rather sharp.
Their fingernails are so long and sharp that they look dead
They paint them glace cherry red
They apply a bright red nail polish called glace cherry to their fingernails
and yellow marzipan.
Some women even paint their nails yellow, resembling marzipan color.
Scoring lines upon the backs Of tender chocolate mice
These women use their sharp nails to create patterns on the chocolate mice in the cake shop, leaving score lines
I would like to buy a wedding cake for you and me!
The singer wants to buy a wedding cake for himself and his lover
You've always been a cake shop girl as far as I recall
The singer recalls that his lover has always worked as a cake shop girl
Ballroom dancer minatures alongside cherokees.
The shop also sells tiny figurines of ballroom dancers and Native Americans, displayed together.
Cake shop girl, oh cake shop girl I'd fall on bended knees
The artist is mesmerized by his lover and would worship her on bended knees
I should like to buy a wedding cake for you and me.
The artist repeats his desire to buy a wedding cake for both of them
Confectioners don't eat a thing
People who work at cake shops never eat the products they make
That's made inside their shops.
Referring to the cakes and desserts
Bottles of crushed beetle
Bottles of dye made from crushed beetles
Can be bought to turn things red.
These dyes are commonly used to give a bright red color to products
Window front displays are made
The cakes displayed on the front window of the cake shop are
For only perfect things,
required to look perfect and flawless
I should like to substitute a cake for you and me
The artist wants to replace their wedding cake with something else
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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