Swale has found a way to extract and express the chaotic elements of peacefulness through unexpected orchestrations of drum, guitar, piano, prepared noise, and voice. When main songwriters and partners Eric Olsen and Amanda Gustafson sing together, they create a complex voice that tangibly entwines weary raggedness with wide-eyed innocence.
When performing live, all three members share the front of the stage, set up virtually on top of one another, a collective huddle centered around the untiring engine that is drummer/songwriter Jeremy Frederick. Their textured and manipulated sound, culminating in puissant highs as well as staggering moments of tranquility, makes watching this band nothing short of entrancing.
Swale has had the honor of performing with My Morning Jacket, Lou Barlow, Kayo Dot, Sam Prekop, Sally Timms, Mike Watt and the Secondmen, Time of Orchids, Rebirth Brass Band, The Bears, Bob Mould, The National, Missy Bly, James Kochalka Superstar, Cex, Mendoza Line, The Cush, Akrasia, Video Pigeon, The Horse, The Middle Eight, Reorder Narcotic, Ryan Power Trio, The Jazz Guys, James Yorkston, Charles Dead or Alive, The Smittens, Dialogue for Three, The Black Sea Quartet, and many more talented artists. Contact us, and add yourself to the list.
Swale will be releasing their first full length album, A Small Arrival, in 2010. They currently have two EPs: Verdigris (2004) and Waterlanding (2007).
