Feeder
Swim

THE REVIEW

"Swim" is an E.P. by Feeder released on June 24, 1996.

 Produced by Chris Shedon (Therapy, Shed Seven, and Oceansize among others), this is the second E.P. by Grant Nicholas and company, following their debut with the "Two Colours E.P.," which, as the title suggests, is composed of only two tracks.

 For those who know the Welsh band for the delicate pop rock of songs like "Feeling A Moment" or "Just The Way I'm Feeling," the impact with this mini album composed of six tracks might be quite disorienting.

 "Sweet 16" (soundtrack of the well-known video game "Gran Turismo") immediately starts with a great riff followed by a wild scream from Grant, then continues with consistently assertive and aggressive tones, clearly influenced by American-style guitar rock (a genre that traditionally adequately balances electric outbursts and catchy melodies).
The same ingredients are found in "Stereo World", with the variant of a notably beautiful melodic opening in the chorus, softening its distinctive traits. The track would later be included in the debut album "Polythene," as well as the electric ballad "Descend", which incredibly fittingly and credibly fuses the typically British melodic taste with the expressive urgency of grunge (following the recurring structural pattern of "quiet verse/aggressive chorus").
 "Shade" is the fastest and most frenetic of the six songs, with the guitar traveling swiftly and decisively, and Grant coming dangerously close to a typically Cobain-like vocal aggression; notable is the bridge that even evokes atmospheres close to hard rock, then fades into a purely intimate moment and subsequently rises towards previous guitar peaks.
"Women In Towels" does not shuffle the deck much but adds a great abrasive solo that does not hurt at all; the guitar scratches like never before. 
The fantastic title track closes, for guitar and voice, which well highlights Nicholas's excellent voice and anticipates the "soft" turn that would arrive a few years later.

 Ultimately, an E.P. that clearly explains what Feeder were more than ten years ago and helps to understand what they have become today. Essential, therefore, to understand the evolution of one of the most successful bands in Albion.

Not just "Buck Rogers," then.

P. S. -  On June 30, 2001, a new version was reissued with 5 new tracks ("Elegy," "World Asleep," "Chicken On A Bone," "Spill," "Forgiven"), two videos ("Crash" and "Cement"), and a differently colored artwork (red instead of black).