Trevor Swadling - Endless Surprise (Australia, 1982)

This is a re-post from the late, great (perhaps the best) Mystery Poster blog (now defunct). This was par for the course of what one could find on that goldmine: a completely unknown, unavailable, mysterious gem, usually of top quality, or at the very least interesting. I remember downloading this one in late-winter, listening to it in front of the fireplace while house-sitting in the country. It took a few listens, but it finally won me over.

Here's a recent blurb about Trevor, who still performs around Sydney:

Trevor is a Australian singer/songwriter and has been writing and performing songs for many years at various venues around Sydney. Recently he produced an album titled The Reason. Trevor’s songs tell a story and convey a message. The lyrics cut deep into the realm of human condition and social issues crossing the age boundaries. The combination of acoustic guitars, bass and piano, with three part harmonies blend together to create a compelling and unique sound that many have described as “fresh folk”.

The music on this LP is less in a "fresh folk"-vein, and more in a lo-fi ramblin' rock & roll mode, melancholic, melodic, a bit psychedelic, with a heavy loner vibe, reminiscent of Anonymous, Relatively Clean Rivers, early Fleetwood Mac and Bob Welch—somewhere between the Dead and Felt (the organ tracks especially remind me of  "Me and a Monkey on the Moon"). I always assumed this was a one-man, multi-track recording, but this popsike posting claims the band features "MULTI INSTRUMENTALIST JEFF MERCER WHO LATER WENT ON TO THE HAPPENING THANG." The pleasantly fuzzy sound may be down to the mystery poster's ripping technique. Regardless, the keyboards layer nicely over the smoggy rhythm section, paired by a solid lead guitar and Swadling's tremulous vocals. Good songs, great sound, 100% earnest: I love listening to this record.

A lot of these songs are also available on Trevor's Soundcloud page.

Trevor Swadling - Endless Surprise
LP, Midway Records, 1982

1  Waiting For The Night
2  Lady Blue
3  One Day
4  Give It All You Got
5  Look Out Jack
6  Time Wasters
7  Wheel Of Fortune
8  What's Going On
9  Merylyn
10  Endless Surprise

Link