Smackvan - Sound In Space

Cult Glasgow band Smackvan have been writing and recording music for over 20 years, operating on the fringes of the Scottish independent music scene. They worked under the name Passkeepers for a period of time in the early 1990’s.

The core members have been Alan Parker, Gerry Tonner, Michael Feeney and Owen McAulay. Ian  Copeland and Alex Ewing added drums and guitar respectively for periods during the ‘Passkeepers years’.

An eagerly anticipated first album ‘First Light’ was recorded at Apollo Studios over a period spanning 6 years and remains unreleased. It will yet see the light of day.

In 1998 Smackvan released a 7’ vinyl release (Coast to Coast / Generating) on Glasgow underground label ‘Sano Records’ ( ran by Belle and Sebastian manager John Williamson ) Following this Smackvan set up the label ‘Sans-Culottes’ and retreated their own studio, recording but rarely venturing out into the live arena.

The album ‘The Company of Women’ was released in 2000 and was followed by the E.P, ‘Evil Entering’ in 2003, both on their sans- culottes label, both of which were critically acclaimed.

Although Smackvan have barely registered in the consciousness of some commentators on the Scottish music scene, their music has beguiled many who have hailed their work as a significant if partially visible influence on Scottish independent music from the early 1990’s onwards.

Smackvan in 2009 are Michael Feeney, Owen McAulay and Gerry Elliot. In the spring of 2009 highly regarded Scottish label Benbecula released a compilation of Smackvan work ‘Low Power Key’ on their Mineral Series imprint.

2011 finally sees the release of their eagerly awaited new album ‘Sound in Space’ on their own sans-culottes records.

Smackvan have been working on pared down versions of their work and will be playing live in the UK through the coming months.

the company of women: "… soundscapes, krautrock, film-music, slowcore; none of these really hits the mark.there is an essentially romantic element at work here, primarily due to the lyrical depth set upon a confident bed of swells, soft hooks, repetition, semi-riffs, unsettling rhythms and noises... "

evil entering: "...one of Glasgows least sighted bands Smackvan return in redoubtable style with this masterful collection of death dark electronica... "

" It’s the sonic equivalent of a fantasy world, with a landscape and a language all of its own... this is a considerable seven minutes and 45 seconds... it has epic scope..."

sound is space: "... musically, this is a brilliant album. Lyrically, it’s sharp in that the outlook catches the mood of the music perfectly. Smackvan have created the last great album of the year... Sound in Space is a major achievement...".

Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!