在中国shoegaze歌迷群体心目中占有一席之地的Swallow也是一对经典的男女组合:Mike Mason雄性挣扎而扭曲的噪音和Louise Trehy柔美而脆弱的女声形成一种缠绵悱恻的冲突对立。
1988年,Louise Trehy和Mike Mason最初相识的时候,Mike Mason正在一支名为Into Paradise的乐队担任客座键盘手,而Trehy当时的男朋友Keith Cullen则是Into Paradise所属厂牌Setanta的老板。
“在一起创作了一些音乐之后,我们就私奔了。”Mason如是回忆道。
两人在把demo带寄给4AD的时候并没有抱什么希望,然而却得到了4AD立刻的赞赏和支持,并很快在1992年发行了他们唯一的一张唱片《Blow》。然而,在录音过程中,Louise Trehy的歌喉表现却不尽人意,甚至有人认为在4AD随后发行的纯器乐混音版《Blowback》更加杰出。歌手Trehy知道,当时4AD的老板Ivo Watts-Russell 一直在建议Mason和其他的女歌手进行合作,可想而知,随之产生的嫉妒和不满不仅是对他们两人之间还是乐队和厂牌之间的关系都造成了很负面的影响。
Trehy说:“Mike一直都想成为一个流行巨星,他很反感我一直拖着他的后腿。”
离开4AD之后,Swallow转签至Rough Trade旗下,并在1994年发行了另一张EP 《Hush》,但在录制第二张录音室专辑的过程当中,Rough Trade遭遇财政危机,无法继续支付乐队录音的费用。
在这时,两人的关系也正式解体,随之而安静消散的,也有乐队的未来。
via 贝阁
Swallow were the duo of Mike Mason and Louise Trehy. Signed to 4AD, they only made two releases before leaving. A briefly resurrected Rough Trade label enabled them to release a further EP before they disbanded. Swallow were an underrated band who never achieved their potential. Saddled with a replacement Cocteau Twins tag the band remixed their debut album Blow to break down the John Fryer production creating the more interesting album Blowback. After relationships with 4AD broke down Swallow began writing and recording at home. A newly funded Rough Trade records released a four track EP Hush which included a cover of Steve Miller's &Dear Mary.& At this point Swallow briefly toured with Mazzy Star. In the middle of their album recordings Rough Trade lost their funding and for the second time Swallows recording efforts were in tatters. At this point Mike Mason and Louise Trehy's relationship ended and Swallow were no more. Mike Mason continues with music and Louise Trehy left the music industry.