{"title":"Jowe Head","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJowe Head is a British bass guitarist, singer, and visual artist. With a career spanning several decades, he has made significant contributions to the music industry as both a musician and an artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown for his unique style and experimental approach, Jowe Head has carved out a niche for himself in the music world. His sound can be described as eclectic, drawing inspiration from various genres such as punk, post-punk, and art rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to his musical talents, Jowe Head is also an accomplished visual artist. His artwork often reflects his creative vision and complements his musical compositions. This multidisciplinary approach sets him apart from other artists in the industry.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cabinet-of-curios","title":"Cabinet of Curios","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst ever career-spanning compilation of the solo work of Jowe Head, an essential name in the birth and development of the UK’s underground scene through his recordings with Swell Maps, Television Personalities, personal projects such as Palookas, Househunters and work under his own name. From 1981 debut album \u003ci\u003ePincer Movement\u003c\/i\u003e up to 2014 recordings by Jowe Head and The Demi-Monde, plus previously unreleased tracks, these 20 cuts present Head’s wonderful mixture of off-kilter pop and avant-garde weirdness, like a noise party attended by Joe Meek, Burt Bacharach and Sun Ra.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Munster","offers":[{"title":"LP | x2","offer_id":50426803618123,"sku":"1007134","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/59bfb77b-37e2-4e31-8118-7449eccaff9a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726817818"},{"product_id":"strawberry-birthmarks","title":"Strawberry Birthmarks","description":"\u003cp\u003eJowe Head's first post-Swell Maps recordings from 1980 and a further session from 1982 after his first LP '\u003ci\u003eincer Movement\u003c\/i\u003e was released in 1981. 6 tracks from these recordings were released on Constrictor in Germany in 1986 alongside tracks from Pincer Movement as \u003ci\u003eStrawberry Deutschmark\u003c\/i\u003e but the other 13 here are previously unreleased. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompletely remixed by Jowe Head in 2020 for Glass Modern. \"I recorded these tracks in my home at Londesborough Road, Stoke Newington, between 1980-1982, using a TEAC 4-track reel-to-reel tape recorder. All instruments played by me: electric guitar, fretless bass, electric fire, typewriter, sticks, a battered trumpet and an old harmonium. Overdubs recorded at GWBB in 1983. Remixed at Perch Street in 2020. Words and music composed by me.\" (Jowe Head, November 2020) \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracklist 1. Insect Valley 2. Back Door To Heaven 3. Easter Bunnies 4. Loose Tongue 5. Clear The Floor 6. Carrot And Cane 7. Son Of Tar Baby 8. Lime Tango 9. Phantom Of The Airwaves 10. Cooling Fins 11. Some Other Day 12. Tar Babies 13. Nearest Faraway Place 14. Chad Valley 15. February 16. Shiney Black Shirt 17. Insect Flavour Valentine 18. Snake Eggs\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Glass Modern","offers":[{"title":"Red | LP","offer_id":50459811578187,"sku":"1121339","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/3d5d5631-3b58-434b-a7ad-e0f846025827_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727227484"},{"product_id":"swell-maps-1972-1980","title":"Swell Maps 1972-1980","description":"\u003cp\u003eFull-colour 152-page hardcover book. Edition of 1000. Contains 7” with six exclusive never-before-released tracks culled from the band and solo member archives. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst-ever official biography of Swell Maps, \u003ci\u003eSwell Maps 1972-1980\u003c\/i\u003e penned by band member and co-founder Jowe Head. Swell Maps were formed in Jowe’s home town of Solihull, England with various school friends in 1972. The group, also featuring the late Nikki Sudden and Nikki’s brother, the late Epic Soundtracks, along with Phones Sportsman, John Cockrill, and Richard Earl emerged in the late 1970s, and are now known as legendary pioneers of what is now referred to as “alternative rock” or “post-punk” with their blend of punk rock mixed with experimental and psychedelic sounds. Together they released four 7” singles, the first in 1977 on their own Rather Records and two critically acclaimed albums in a brief but dramatic career, that led to them topping the UK independent charts, and influencing bands such as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Blur. After Swell Maps broke up in 1980, Jowe joined the Television Personalities. Ten years with the TVPs saw Jowe making more influential records, touring Europe regularly, and playing in Japan and the USA. Today he still regularly releases recordings, solo and with multiple groups, and is the steward of the Swell Maps legacy. In this 152-page biography of the band, Jowe takes us to each members’ formative years and reveals what made them experiment with challenging music and eventually come together to form Swell Maps. Through his own recollections and utilizing interviews with former members, he explores the early days of the band, and details stories that bring the reader into the inner workings of the band as they traveled through the late 70s cultural scene in Europe. The last section of the book updates the whereabouts of all the key players.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book includes dozens of full-colour images of band memorabilia from the author’s personal collection, including photos, posters, flyers, artwork, original lyrics, and more. Additionally, a 7” vinyl single is included that features tracks never before released anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":50466294563147,"sku":"1139388","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b717ab68-cb38-451f-8be8-87f33ca39281_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727310753"},{"product_id":"pincer-movement","title":"Pincer Movement","description":"\u003cp\u003eEx Swell Maps and Television Personalities founder released his first Solo album in 1982 ..here it is fully remastered as a limited edition pressings of 500 copies. \u003ci\u003ePincer Movement\u003c\/i\u003e has been out of print on vinyl since the mid 1980’s. Includes 2-sided colour insert.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Easy Action","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50498006090059,"sku":"1030526","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/281d3f9e-534a-429e-a9ea-123ef30ad570_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727736463"},{"product_id":"widdershins","title":"Widdershins","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrand new studio album from Ex Swell Maps and Television Personalities guitarist. \u003ci\u003eWiddershins\u003c\/i\u003e is a term to describe the superstition against walking in an anti-clockwise direction, which was thought to be unlucky or even heretical. This typifies Jowe Head’s approachto music-making and to life in general; ignoring transient fashions and prevailing trends in pursuit of a personal creative vision. Distrustful of genres, pigeon-holes and categories, Jowe continues to plough a unique furrow, creating a genre of his own. His background in playing with highly influential, pioneering post-punk bands Swell Maps and Television Personalities is evident here, balancing the dynamics of pop and rock music, with the adventurous use of experimental sounds. Conceived and executed over the last five years, the material involves deliberately contrasting extremes: light against darkness, chaos against order, tenderness against wrath, melody against harsh white noise, past against future. Open-minded music lovers and connoisseurs of psychedelic sounds shall welcome this record. Followers of so-called ‘psych-folk’ shall hear much of interest; fans of Shirley Collins (\u003ci\u003eBolweevil Holler\u003c\/i\u003e) and Fairport Convention (\u003ci\u003eNottamun Town\u003c\/i\u003e) shall recognise a few songs. Devotees of cult bands The Incredible String Band and Einsturzende Neubaten shall be interested to hear cover versions of their work.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Easy Action","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50498172682571,"sku":"1061465","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50498173993291,"sku":"1077236","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0a6b3a96-c70e-46cf-8964-fd1d63efcec7_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727740886"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_028cf5ca_thumbnail_4096_16df1b08-d4ab-401b-8712-e12bd5beddfc.jpg?v=1726817798","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/jowe-head.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}