Salad Days

Formed in 1978 as a 'desperate last-ditch attempt at doing something with my life' by Stuart Moxham, this seminal trio from Cardiff was Stuart (main songwriter, guitar, organ), his brother Phil (bass), and Alison Statton (vocals). Playing within a minimalist musical landscape, the YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS used Phil's superb, lyrical bass playing, Stuart's twangy/scratchy guitar and reedy organ, and Alison's sweet, harmonic vocals to achieve critical acclaim for their debut album "Colossal Youth." After one more EP, the band decided to go their separate ways, but not before providing inspiration to a generation of indie, pop, and experimental bands and musicians. (Kurt Cobain, in an interview with Melody Maker, cited the Young Marble Giants as his favorite band.) Now, Vinyl Japan presents the Young Marble Giants' early demos -- a collection of recordings from 1979. These tracks predate their first album, and are nothing less than historical documentation of the beginnings of a band that was to have massive impact on many of the bands of the last two decades. Essential listening!