Blue Plate Special: Swimming
Swimming, an English art rock band from Nottingham, carved a niche in the music world with their genre-defying sound since their formation in 2004. The brainchild of John Sampson and Benjamin Hallatt, the band embarked on a musical journey with a distinctive approach to songwriting and production, evident from their debut EP, “Pacific Title,” released in 2006. Their music, known for blending a vast array of styles into a cohesive and uplifting sound, has been released under their own label, Colourschool Records, as well as EVR Records and Tummy Touch Records. Despite changes in their lineup, including the departure of Hallatt from live performances, the band’s essence remained intact, continuing to explore and refine their experimental sound through subsequent releases and gaining recognition in the indie music scene and beyond.
Swimming’s ambitious nature extended beyond their music to innovative performances, including a pioneering binaural, headphone-only gig and notable festival appearances. Their debut album, “The Fireflow Trade,” released in 2009, and its follow-up, “Ecstatics International” in 2011, received critical acclaim, cementing their place in the contemporary music landscape. Their involvement in unique projects like the soundtrack for “Beyond The Scars” and binaural recording documentaries showcases their commitment to pushing creative boundaries. Moreover, the band’s collaborative spirit and their connection to other artistic endeavors, highlighted by their members’ diverse musical backgrounds and ventures into sound work and live performances outside of Swimming, underline the eclectic and innovative ethos that defines them.
I discovered them around the time of their “Ecstatics International” album and became even more interested when drummer/beatboxer Pete Sampson (ThePETEBOX) started recording his solo singles, such as the epic Where Is My Mind? (Pixies cover). No clue as to why these guys never became bigger internationally. One of my all-time favorite bands. John co-founded the Colour8 music label and currently creates ambient and electronic music under the name CJ Mirra. Definitely worth checking out.
Here is a great sampling of their catalog:
I Do (Come True) – from the album Ecstatics International (2011)
Mining For Diamonds (Beach Binaural Beatbox Version) – from the album Ecstatics International (2011)
Mirror Maze – from the Primary EP (2008)
Pathalassa – from the album The Fireflow Trade (2009)
And here they are playing live in Amsterdam.
Neutron Wireless Crystal – from the album Ecstatics International (2011)
Sun in the Island (Binaural Solstice Version Full)Â – from the album Ecstatics International (2011)
Crescents (Child Of The Calculator Live VJ Mix) – from the Pacific Title EP (2006)
Crash the Current with Dallas Simpson (Binaural Live) – from the album The Fireflow Trade (2009)
