vmarcfort
One of the greatest songs in guitar rock history laid out in demo form. A lovely peak into the songwriting process of master artists. 5 out of 5 stars!
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about
Adam Franklin's original demo for the Swervedriver song Duel.
Released August 2nd 1992, Duel was awarded Single of the Week in both of the weekly UK music papers of the day, Melody Maker and the NME. It proved to be somewhat of a comeback for the band who had not long before fractured in half with the departure of both members of the rhythm section, Adi Vines and Graham Bonnar. Jimmy and I needed both songs and band members and fast.
I had been messing around with an alternate tuning on the guitar (FCDGCD) and in the middle of the night late in 1992 quietly committed an idea called 'Duel' to tape, feeling around in the dark but sensing a cool tune in the making.
Soon after, we had recruited Jez to play drums and the song was being played through loud amps in rehearsal rooms and being fashioned into the "timeless road anthem" that it became.
I sang (just about) the two lines of lyric: the semi-absurd "you've been away for so long, you can't ask why" opening gambit and the "going down, down to the market place, going to learn to live" chorus - largely swiped from the brilliant Evangelist by Ut, for which we received their blessing as our ex-drummer Graham had also briefly drummed for them - virtually on the spot but when matched with the song title created something pleasingly powerful and evocative.
At first Duel would be played around third in the live set but for years now it has closed the show and we just let it go where it pleases at the end.
Thanks Duel, we love ya!
Adam Aug 2020
credits
released August 4, 2020
Recorded on TASCAM Porta Two early 1992, London.
Remastered by Ley Taylor July 2020, Toronto.
I first heard Swervedriver when this demo of Son Of Mustang Ford was included on the Creation Tape with Select magazine in 92. It blew me away and I started seeking out whatever vinyl/cds I could get my hands on. I joined their fan club getting the little magazines that sometimes included lyrics. I couldn’t believe my luck when a few months later Swervedriver announced they were playing in nearby Worthing at the Factory club. I was there with a handful of mates totally spellbound. I love this stephendibble
You know a band is special when they can release a collection of B-sides & rarities & it sounds like a Greatest Hits.
Maëlstrom & the Hitcher are two of the finest songs I've ever heard. mrpaullandini
Is it wicked not to care? Frances Chang's layered, strange experimental pop recalls Lisa Germano in its pursuit of meaning in a sad world. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 2, 2022
Good stuff, and the demo is right up there with the final product. Just a touch different and a bit brighter of a mix, both conveying slightly different moods with the same song as a result. scarredartist