Swell Maps were punk/post-punk by temporal default, as they were only ‘visible’ in the late seventies, but really, their hearts were much closer to T-Rex, Can, and Thunderbirds in spirit – big block chords, avant-glam spirit, weird sci-fi references, mantras to the eternal now. Jane From Occupied Europe is their second album, the last one they released during their short lifespan (1972 to 1980), and perfectly captures why they were so inspiring. It’s partly due to their guitar sound, admittedly, a squirrelly, scratchy thing that sounds like six strings melting a transistor radio; it’s hard to resist. But Jane From Occupied Europe does everything you want from a Swell Maps record – great, sloppy pop-non-pop (“Helicopter Spies,” “Cake Shop Girl”), loopy chants (“Secret Island”), wild, expansive experiments that grab hold of Krautrock’s repetition and chuck the toy cabinet at it (“Big Maz In The Desert,” “Collision With A Frogman”).