49 AMERICANS - E Pluribus Unum

Here's what we wrote in 2002 about the 49 AMERICANS reissues on the Japanese label, Saidera. "Wonder", issued by Saidera, was the 1st LP, "E Pluribus Unum", plus a handful of bonus tracks:

"Lovingly assembled and beautifully produced career-spanning recordings by this late 70s/early 80s UK DIY super group. The main instigator behind the Americans was Andrew Giblet Brenner who assembled a loose, disparate group of musical/non-musical practitioners as "an experiment in equality and democracy". This "democracy" included Nag, Bendle and Else Watt of Door And The Window, David Toop, Steve Beresford and Max Eastley (coming out of the anything goes improv scene), Viv Albertine of the Slits, Vivien Goldman (who was simultaneously recording the classic dub/funk/punk Dirty Washing 12" on 99 Records which featured Beresford as well as Keith Levine, George Oban, Robert Wyatt, Adrian Sherwood and others) , Igor (Nag & Bendles roommate), parents of the members and many more.. The sound over the course of their career started off as rugged Door And The Window-ish songs/pieces on the first single but by the 1st LP and 12" evolved into an off-kilter songwriting style similar to that of Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Red Krayola, early Beat Happening, Good Missionaries and lesser knowns like Department Store Santas, Mark Tucker, Philip Johnson, etc.. By "We Know Nonsense" many songs have an almost lounge jazz style. This probably doesnt sound too appealing but the record does have its moments, including one of my fave 49 American songs (though some of the tracks are definitely not my bag) ...."

"What might seem to others to be harsh reviews were to us wonderful complimentary fodder; swamped in kettle and saucepan percussion, a hearty shabbiness, amateurism viewed as a material virtue rather than a spiritual one, and the best quote of all, makes Swell Maps sound like Led Zeppelin." - Nag (Wonder liner notes).

\r\n "The 49 Americans were an experiment in the pursuit of happiness... Have fun! Play! Participate! Everyone should be allowed to be an American." - Andrew Brenner (aka Giblet).