Brilliant Rock.
Michael Colin | London, UK | 11/30/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, it seems like every reissue from some obscure band from 1980 seems to get the "gem" 5 star review, but this record is really something special. It is so loosely concocted, but it works incredibly well as a whole or just listening to individual tracks. The looseness seems very natural and unpretentious. Also, the energy of this group is completely contagious. Its an absolute must for anyone into the early eighties British thing but feels like the Fall don't rock hard enough and that Wire are too full of themselves....."
Glorious clatter
N. Wilson | Dallas TX | 10/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Prior to buying "Jane from Occupied Europe", I owned only their early singles "Read about Seymour" and "Let's Build A Car," which I felt were great songs but I didn't really understand all the critics referring to the band as "avant-garde," as their early singles were pretty straightforward punk - like a louder Fall.
But "Jane from Occupied Europe" is a truly great album, and now I plan to buy "A Trip From Marineville" because I like Swell Maps so much now. Parts of this album actually closely resemble no wave and krautrock, but it all feels much more melodic. Deep below all the feedback and hissing toy symphonies lie some truly excellent and abstract melodies. The energy level remains consistently high and the album is patchy in the best sense - although the songs are not of a consistent style, it all feels like a unified whole, in the same way Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" does.
I'm so glad this was reissued because had it not been available, I probably would not have spent my time and money tracking it down. And I would have missed out on such an excellent album."