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Factory Benelux \ The Names \ Swimming [FBN 9 / FBN 9 CD]

Factory Benelux presents new deluxe double vinyl and single CD editions of Swimming, the acclaimed album by Belgian new wave group The Names, originally issued in June 1982.

Between 1979 and 1982 The Names recorded a string of excellent records for Factory, Factory Benelux and Les Disques du Crépuscule, all helmed by legendary producer Martin Hannett. Recorded at Strawberry Studios in Manchester, Swimming has come to be regarded as a cold wave classic, combining strong songwriting from Michel Sordinia and poised, tasteful delivery by guitarist Marc Deprez and keyboards player Christophe Den Tandt.

Bonus tracks include singles Calcutta, Nightshift, The Astronaut and Spectators of Life, as well as the band's John Peel session from February 1982, the first ever recorded by a Belgian band. The gatefold sleeve also features original artwork and poster design by Benoît Hennebert, and photographs by Marc Portée.

Tracklist (2xLP):

Side 1

1. Discovery
2. Floating World
3. The Fire
4. Life By the Sea
5. White Shadow

Side 2

6. Harmony
7. Shanghai Gesture
8. Leave Her to Heaven
9. Light

Side 3

10. Music for Someone
11. Calcutta
12. Nightshift
13. The Astronaut
14. Spectators of Life

Side 4

15. Life By the Sea (Peel Session)
16. Discovery (Peel Session)
17. Shanghai Gesture (Peel Session)
18. Harmony (Peel Session)


Tracklist (CD):

1. Discovery
2. Floating World
3. The Fire
4. Life By the Sea
5. White Shadow
6. Harmony
7. Shanghai Gesture
8. Leave Her to Heaven
9. Light
10. Music for Someone
11. Calcutta
12. Nightshift
13. Life By the Sea (Peel Session)
14. Discovery (Peel Session)
15. Shanghai Gesture (Peel Session)
16. Harmony (Peel Session)

Swimming [FBN 9 / FBN 9 CD]

Reviews:

"Intelligent and imaginative" (The Face, 07/1982)

"Classic, disaffected pop" (Top, 04/1991)

"Exhibits many of the fine qualities of early 80s avant-rock: icy brutalism, spectral reverb, tormented vocals, techno-tribal rumbles" (Uncut, 12/2000)

"Swimming retains a gorgeously shrouded, sepulchral mood" (Mojo, 12/2011)

"Heard now, Swimming shimmers like an underwater version of The Cure, crystalline and fractured" (The Arts Desk, 02/2013)

"Dark yet sparkling" (Record Collector, 03/2013)

"A superb and timeless new-wave triumph" (Flipside, 02/2013)