The John Peel Sessions is a vital document of Swell Maps at their most unfiltered-three sessions of unpredictable, exhilarating noise. Formed in the early '70s and fully realised by 1976, Swell Maps embodied the DIY ethos, launching their own label and self-releasing the jagged, frenetic debut single 'Read About Seymour', recorded and produced by themselves late 1977. Peel was an early supporter, playing their record as soon as it landed on his desk-a moment the band described as one of disbelief and elation. His regular airplay of their music helped solidify their cult status, and these sessions capture the raw energy, off-kilter melodies, and boundary-pushing creativity that defined them.
