EPIC SOUNDTRACKS

Christened with the name Kevin Godfrey, Epic was Nikki’s younger brother. In the pre-Maps days of the early 1970s, he joined Nikki and Phones and Jowe in bedroom sessions on percussion, initially experimenting with found household objects, like kitchen utensils, furnishings and a fire-alarm bell. Epic became the drummer with Swell Maps, and also played piano and organ on many of the band’s tracks.

In 1979, Epic started a parallel career playing drums with Red Crayola, then after Swell Maps spilt up, he made his solo recording debut in 1981, resulting in a Rough Trade single featuring Robert Wyatt’s lead vocal.

Jowe and Epic started recording an album project together in 1982, under the name of Soundtracks and Head, called “Daga Daga Daga”. Rough Trade released a single from these sessions, featuring Carmel on vocals, called “Rain, Rain, Rain”. The full album is an ongoing project, awaiting completion and release.

In 1985, Epic was recruited by ex–Birthday Party musicians Mick Harvey and Rowland Howard for Crime And The City Solution. They had a cameo stage appearance in the Wim Wenders film “Wings of Desire”. When that group split, Epic joined Rowland and his brother Harry in their new band These Immortal Souls in 1987.

Epic gradually gained confidence in his singing, and started to record his first solo album in 1991, with the help of Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth. Later sessions had contributions from Rowland Howard, J.Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Martyn Casey (Bad Seeds), Anthony Thistlethwaite (Waterboys), and Will Pepper (Thee Hypnotics). Epic went on to record three more fine solo albums in a similar vein. Sadly, he passed away in 1997.