Swansea Sound: On Our Own

Jangling pop quintet Swansea Sound have written a bittersweet song about a beloved live music venue that got demolished to make room for office spaces. Suffice to say that new building now sits empty, after the jobs got automated. On Our Own is not a downer, but also a call to get back to businness and keep art alive, which is needed and can be a lot fun too. It is a track from their forthcoming album Pre-post-truth.

Swansea Sound: Mean To Be Mean

Can you hold a grudge for a couple of decades? Amelia Fletcher can, getting even with an unnamed critic who wrote an unfavourable review about Heavenly, the band she was in back then. Now a member of jangling pop quintet Swansea Sound she came up with Mean To Be Mean, an upbeat put down song with appropriate swearing when you enjoy the album version that will be included on their new album Pre-post-truth. The radio-friendly version has to make do without them, which is a bit lame, but hey, it might improve their changes to get some well-deserved airplay.

The subject of her wrath is most likely long gone, but Heavenly made a comeback with an ace album, Highway To Heavenly, this year. Patience pays off in the long run.

Swansea Sound: All Is Calm

Welsh poppy punk quintet Swansea Sound decided to have a bit of fun and join the flurry of seasonal releases with a tongue-in-cheek Christmas mini-album. On All Is Calm they poke fun at first world problems (Not My Order, Click It And Pay (Walking In The Air)) and ask the imaginary bearded guy to safe from misery and ennui (Santa Bail Me Out).

Last year's single (I Wanna Wear A) Mirrored Hat Like Slade plus it accusing B-side Dreamland - nope, not everyone can spend a shit load of money on presents - are included, which will please all those who missed out on that one. It may seem a bit weird for an indie band to wrap up the proceedings with a cover of Cheap Trick's rather cheesy Merry Christmas Darlings, but it turned out pretty good, giving it an edge that was missing from the original.

Swansea Sound: new Christmas album "All Is Calm" in December

Welsh poppy punk quintet Swansea Sound have rounded up their previous Yuletide singles and added two new ones for their All Is Calm album. As per usual they throw in a few special items to go with the physical version. It is "hand-stamped LP in white hand-stamped card sleeve. With Swansea Sound balloons, a hand-stamped paper hat, a 'carol service' lyric sheet, a set of cracker jokes about other bands, plus a personalised greetings card signed by members of Swansea Sound."

Swansea Sound: Oasis v Blur

Welsh poppy punk quintet Swansea Sound look back at the pissing match between the biggest bands during the height of Britpop. Oasis v Blur is a gritty sounding summation of what went down as what was considered as big as the Beatles v Stones discussion. While the latter went global, the tiff up between the Manchester lads and cheeky guys from London to dominate the charts with both having a new single out in August 1995, was watched with mild amusement outside the UK.

In hindsight, it is hard to fathom what the fuzz was all about, but Swansea Sound have managed to pinpoint the differences between the two with glee. Bonus points for the fuzzy guitar and on point drums.

Swansea Sound: (I Wanna Wear A) Mirrored Hat Like Slade

Welsh poppy punk quintet Swansea Sound pay tribute to Noddy Holder's legendary headgear with (I Wanna Wear A) Mirrored Hat Like Slade, an alternative Christmas single wherein the whole family gets a present: an iPad for Grandma, so she can enjoy watching porn and ads, beer for grandad, a Spotify subscription for the kids. But getting smashed and dancing the night away wearing said hat? That does not actually happen.

B-side Dreamland is another wish that will never get fulfilled: a party that last half a year is not part of the equation, but the starving kids on the telly are a reality they can't get away from.

Swansea Sound: Toxic Energy

Welsh poppy indie punkers Swansea Sound have never shunned away from their taking a stand. Their new single Toxic Energy is both an accusation and a consolation for those who feel that they are trapped in an unhealthy relationship. It's fast and damn catchy. The B-side Dinosaur Bones moves at a glacial pace, with the unspoken threat that failing to evolve will get you killed.

Heavenly & Swansea Sound: US West Coast shows

Revived British jangly indie band Heavenly will play their first shows in the US since 29 years in October. They are joined by Swansea Sound (with the exception of the LA gig). Prepare for two sets of off-kilter songs about serious matters wrapped in good-times music.

Swansea Sound: "Markin' It Down" lathe-cut 7" single for Record Store Day

Welsh poppy indie punkers Swansea Sound will release Markin' It Down, their tribute to second hand record stores as limited 7" single. It is a track from their Twentieth Century album.

Hand-stamped, hand-numbered lathe-cut black vinyl. 100 copies pressed. With hand-made discount stickers and a picture postcard. Some copies will be available at Tangled Parrot (Swansea) and Rough Trade (London) on Record Store Day (20th April). The rest will be available here. Only one single per order.

Swansea Sound: Twentieth Century

Welsh poppy indie punkers Swansea Sound have always been vocal about where they stand and politics are all over their new album Twentieth Century, on which they try to bring the ideals of the last century to the current one. Now that everything is digital, most people won't realize that it comes at a price. Rampant commercialism (Click It And Pay), a miner working hard in a coltan mine to unearth the essentials for smartphones (Paradise), the list is endless. A bit of nostalgia is cherished as well, like remembering getting in a tiff with the Old Bill (I Don’t Like Men In Uniform). And there is the touching tribute to second hand record stores, going through the racks to score a bunch of discounted albums (Markin' It Down).

They never sold out, but they understand the allure of doing so, like living on the fruits of having a hit a couple of decades ago (Punish The Young). Twentieth Century is, despite all the concerns that keep them awake at night, an upbeat album. With hooks galore and offhandedly sounding vocals, the message comes across in a very danceable way. Buy them a pint when they play one of those rock clubs that is still standing and thank them a night of good-natured music that digs deep.

Swansea Sound: "Keep Your Head On" video

English indie rock band Swansea Sound have made a video for Keep Your Head On, the lead single from their forthcoming new album Twentieth Century. They seek to offer solace to anyone who has trouble dealing with the political turmoil and shit load of fake news that are part of everyday life now. A slice of keyboard-driven melancholy that is uplifting.

Skep Wax Summer Fête in London: Swansea Sound, Panic Pocket and Special Friend

Indie bands - and Skep Wax label mates - Swansea Sound, Panic Pocket and Special Friend will take over the Lexington in London on June 30 for a Summer Fête. And since it is a feast there will also be a raffle, tombola, pin-the-badge-on-the-indie, and other traditional pursuits. Swansea Sound will be playing songs from their forthcoming new album Twentieth Century.

Tickets costs a measly £11.00- and are available here.

Swansea Sound: two shows in March

Welsh alternative punk band Swansea Sound have announce two shows in March. They might play some songs from the new album that will see the light of day later this year.

Live dates:

• 03/16 Birmingham @ Rock and Roll Brewhouse Bar
• 03/17 Sheffield @ Sidney and Matilda
  (w/ Milky Wimpshake, All Ashore)

» Swansea Sound on Facebook

HCTF review of Live At The Rum Puncheon.

Swansea Sound: Music Lover

Welsh alternative punk band Swansea Sound are poking fun at tech moguls Ek, Bezos, Zuckerberg and Musk on their new song Music Lover. It is an upbeat, rambling garage rocker with a serious message: people who are unable to create art are living well of the hard work of those who can. In the accompanying video Spotify's Daniel Ek is portrayed as a clueless lead singer, who also sucks at playing guitar.

Music Lover is part of an 3-track EP that also contains Happy Christmas To Me and the Cheap Trick Merry Christmas Darlings that were released on a limited edition (100 copies) 7" single on white vinyl last year as part of the Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club. The Music Lover EP is released on CD inside a special festive greetings card via Skepwax Records.

Swansea Sound: shows in Bristol and Newport

Welsh indie band Swansea Sound will play shows in Bristol @ Zed Alley (May 27 - w/ AlterModerns, European Sun) and Newport @ Le Pub (May 28 - w/ Soundwire, Simon Bromide). These dates had to been rescheduled for the obvious reasons.

Prepare for a nice mix of danceable power pop and opinionated garage rock. They will play songs from their debut album, Live At The Rum Puncheon: Despite its title the album was not caught on stage, but it has all the energy and excitement of a live gig. Joyous back to basics indie rock that packs a punch and an open invitation to sing along".

Swansea Sound: "Freedom of Speech" video

English indie rock band Swansea Sound have made a video for Freedom of Speech, a track from their debut album, Live At The Rum Puncheon: "Despite its title the album was not caught on stage, but it has all the energy and excitement of a live gig. Joyous back to basics indie rock that packs a punch and an open invitation to sing along".

Live dates:

• 12/10 London, Rough Trade East
• 02/04 Bristol, Zed Alley
• 02/05 Newport, Le Pub
• 02/18 St Leonards, The Piper
• 02/19 London, Hope and Anchor
• 03/04 Manchester, The Talleyrand
• 03/05 Liverpool, venue TBC

» Swansea Sound on Facebook

HCTF review of Live At The Rum Puncheon.

Swansea Sound: "The Pooh Sticks" video

Indie rock band Swansea Sound have made a video for The Pooh Sticks, a track from their debut album, Live At The Rum Puncheon: "Despite its title the album was not caught on stage, but it has all the energy and excitement of a live gig. Joyous back to basics indie rock that packs a punch and an open invitation to sing along".

Live dates:

• 12/10 London, Rough Trade East
• 02/04 Bristol, Zed Alley
• 02/05 Newport, Le Pub
• 02/18 St Leonards, The Piper
• 02/19 London, Hope and Anchor
• 03/04 Manchester, The Talleyrand
• 03/05 Liverpool, venue TBC

» Swansea Sound on Facebook

HCTF review of Live At The Rum Puncheon.

Swansea Sound: "Live At The Rum Puncheon" Zoom party

English indie rock band Swansea Sound will host a Zoom party on November 20 to celebrate the release of their debut album, Live At The Rum Puncheon: "the album will be played, videos will be screened, the band will be available to answer questions, and beer will be drunk".

Swansea Sound: Live At The Rum Puncheon

Swansea Sound was started almost by accident Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey of The Catenary Wires got in touch with Hue Williams, inviting him to sing on Angry Girl, a song that was bit too rough for them. It worked out fine - he actually sang the vocal part in a cupboard - and the track gained some traction after a bit airplay that took them by surprise. The release laid the groundwork for Live at the Rum Puncheon, a bunch of sardonic, upbeat songs, mixing serious concerns (I Sold My Soul On Ebay, Indies Of The World, Corporate Indie Band) and garage rockers about relationships (Let It Happen, Je Ne Sais Quoi).

Despite its title the album was not caught on stage, but it has all the energy and excitement of a live gig. Joyous back to basics indie rock that packs a punch and an open invitation to sing along.

Swansea Sound: "Rock N Roll Void" video

Welsh indie power pop band Swansea Sound have made a video for Rock N Roll Void, a rollicking ode to bands that made a lasting impression on them when they were kids - lead singer Hue Williams saw the Ramones when he was 13. That kind of excitement is hard to replicate, but they have made it their quest to play high energy songs, often with a political message to the powers that be in general and the music industry in particular. Case in point: their Indies Of The World and Corporate Indie Band singles.

Rock N Roll Void is the first track from their debut album Live at the Rum Puncheon, due for release on November 19 via Lavender Sweep Records (cassette - UK), HHBTM Records (vinyl - North America), Skep Wax Records (vinyl - UK/Europe), Austin Town Hall Records (cassette - North America) and Shiny Happy Records (cassette - Indonesia). Don't look for their songs on the big time streaming services. They are not on it.