Spring Heel Jack

Wales was formerly a composer of contemporary classical music and leader of the band Crazy About Love, while Coxon was a successful remixer and producer (most notably for Betty Boo) prior to their joining forces.^[1]

Their first three drum and bass albums released during the 1990s earned positive reviews for their innovative take on the genre. They also co-wrote and produced the 1996 track "Walking Wounded", a major UK hit for Everything But The Girl^[2] featuring Ben Watt who had earlier been sacked from Crazy About Love.

The cinematic Disappeared (2000) marked a transition for Wales and Coxon, and featured the British saxophonist John Surman, whose appearance was a harbinger of later changes.

Masses (2001), the first of several albums for the cross-genre Blue Series on Thirsty Ear, was an even more radical departure. Collaborators included saxophonists Evan Parker, John Tchicai and Tim Berne; bassist William Parker; trumpeters Roy Campbell, Kenny Wheeler and Wadada Leo Smith; trombonist Paul Rutherford; drummer Han Bennink; pianist Matthew Shipp; and guitarist Jason Pierce.

In 2006 Coxon and Wales began to operate a record label, Treader, releasing CDs by themselves and other associated artists, including some of their recent collaborators.

Albums

• There are Strings (1995)
• 68 Million Shades... (1996)
• Versions (1996)
• Busy, Curious, Thirsty (1997)^[3]
• Treader (1999)
• Oddities (2000)
• Disappeared (2000)
• Masses (2001)
• Amassed (2002)
• The Sweetness of the Water (2004)
• Songs and Themes (2008)^[4]
• Hackney Road (2018) SHJ and Wadada Leo Smith with Pat Thomas and Steve Noble

Live albums

• Live (2003)
• Live in Antwerp (2014) with Pat Thomas, Alex Ward, Paul Lytton

EPs

• Bombscare (Tugboat, 2000) with Low

With Han Bennink

• Amplified Trio (Treader, 2007)