Swim (EP)

Swim
EP by Feeder
Released	24 June 1996 1 July 2001
Recorded	1996 at Townhouse and Livingston Studios, London
Genre	Grunge
Length	21:46 (1996) 37:42 (2001)
Label	Echo
Producer	Chris Sheldon, Feeder
Feeder chronology
Two Colours EP (1995) Swim EP (1996) Polythene (1997)
Original 1996 cover

Swim was the second EP by the British alternative rock band Feeder. It was Feeder's second commercial release, but failed to have much success.

The EP had influences of Smashing Pumpkins early work along with Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers and Silverchair that followed on Polythene.

Release

The 6-track EP was released on 24 June 1996 on The Echo Label and later released in CD-format on 12 October 1998. Swim was re-released with seven additional tracks on 30 July 2001. The songs "Stereo World" and "Descend" appeared on the band's debut album Polythene.

After Feeder broke into the mainstream with their single "Buck Rogers" and the Echo Park album, Swim was re-released, with five B-sides from the Polythene singles and two videos. The only difference between the original Swim artwork and the re-release is the colour of the backgrounds; blue for the original and red for the re-release.

In late 2006, to coincide with the tour of Japan tour in October, the album had its first release outside Europe.^[1]

In March 2015 in an interview with feeder lead singer Grant Nicholas on the site drowned in sound he mentioned they might record a swim 2 album. "We are thinking of doing something along those lines, or maybe even recording Swim 2 with six new tracks. There will be a new Feeder record next year"

Reception

On original release, the mini-album was talked about by Kerrang! magazine as one of the releases of the year, but was not eligible for the end-of-year list because it was a mini-album.

The re-release was Kerrang! magazine's "Album of the week" and its website carried a commentary from the lead vocalist and guitarist Grant Nicholas on each of the eleven audio tracks.^[2]

It reached #15 on the UK indie chart and #91 on the national chart.

Several tracks are used on the original PlayStation racing simulator, Gran Turismo.

Track listing

1. "Sweet 16" – 3:32
2. "Stereo World" – 3:32
3. "W.I.T. (Women in Towels)" – 2:29
4. "Descend" – 5:25
5. "Shade" – 4:09
6. "Swim" – 3:19

2001 re-release

1. "Sweet 16" – 3:32
2. "Stereo World" – 3:32
3. "W.I.T. (Women in Towels)" – 2:29
4. "Descend" – 5:25
5. "Shade" – 4:09
6. "Swim" – 3:19
7. "Elegy" – 4:13
8. "World Asleep" – 4:16
9. "Chicken on a Bone" (1997 version) – 3:45
10. "Spill" – 2:58
11. "Forgiven" – 4:47
12. Crash (CD Rom Video)
13. Cement (CD Rom Video)

References

1. ↑ HMV.co.jp "Swim" release details
2. ↑ Kerrang!.com Swim review