Swallow were the British-based duo of Mike Mason and Louise Trehy. Signed to 4AD, they only released one studio album and one special remix collection before leaving the label. They moved on to Rough Trade Records for a further EP before they disbanded.
History
Mike Mason had previously played as a live keyboard player for Into Paradise, while Louise Trehy had founded record label Setanta with Keith Cullen. Mike Mason had also directed and produced promotional video for Spacemen 3. They were signed by 4AD after sending a demo to the label. The band released their debut album Blow in July 1992. Initially compared with Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine, the band remixed the Blow album to break down the John Fryer production, creating the limited edition follow-up release Blowback. After relationships with 4AD broke down, Swallow began writing and recording at home. A newly-funded Rough Trade records released the four track EP Hush, which included a cover of Steve Miller's "Dear Mary". Around the time of the EP's release in 1994, Swallow briefly toured with Mazzy Star. The Chemical Brothers sampled Swallow for their track "One Too Many Mornings". In the middle of recording their second full-length album, Rough Trade lost their funding, and Swallow's recording efforts were in tatters. By this point, Mike Mason and Louise Trehy's relationship ended, and Swallow quietly disbanded. Louise Trehy left the music industry altogether, but Mike Mason continues with musical endeavours. Currently, Mason works with music, film and photography, and has directed music videos for Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Slowdive, and The Mekons. Some of Mason's other music projects include Cowboy Racer, which features Marijne van der Vlugt from Salad; writing and producing with artists including Boz Boorer, Lettie, Jessie Grace, Peter Murphy ; and Dalis Car proposed second album with Mick Karn. In 2014, Mason was working on a new project Superhand with Jessie Grace, Malt Barn recording have released a dubstep remix of the track "Discipline Me" by Rednek. A collection of incomplete home recordings, titled Soft, was released digitally in May 2009 on the White Lines label. Louise Trehy returned to music in March 2013, having posted 3 in-progress demos online: "Hang On", "Au Naturel" and "Stars". Shortly after she signed to Saint Marie Records, a Texas based label that specializes in, but is not limited to modern shoegaze and dream pop music. Working with Peter Pavli as Strata Florida they released an album 'Made of Stars' on 25/03/2014 which was well received and described as "...a full-throttle, Spectorish wall of sound pumped up to about 15. It’s as close to liturgical pop music as I’ve heard all year" 8.5/10.
