The Makers of the Dead Travel Fast was formed in Sydney in 1980, as an experimental music group by Greg Addison on guitar and vocals, David Bullock on percussion, Steve Couri on bass guitar, Shane Fahey on synthesiser and vocals, Peter Richardson on piano, percussion and vocals; and Tim Schultz on saxophone, vocals and percussion. The band's name is a quote from Bram Stoker's
Dracula. McFarlane stated that it "became something of a cult hit, and the band made its first live appearances." Phil Turnbull of
No Night Sweats felt that "Tael of the Saeghors" was "one of the best songs he's ever heard. Floating, watery sounds made by synths and bubble-makers lead into a lilting, gorgeous two chord progression in 3/4 time and psuedo pirate verse [sic] ('ay, capn', et al) followed by a late-night busker sax melody that takes the place of the chorus. I've never heard anything remotely like it before or since."
Vessels, the group's debut album, appeared in 1981, which McFarlane described as having "mixed atmospheric, uncluttered sound textures with understated dynamics. The music drew certain parallels with the work of
Brian Eno and the second side of
David Bowie's
Low." In May–June 2009 M Squared released a vinyl set,
M Squared – Pardon Me for Barging in Like This, which included the band's "Style Noodle" on the third LP. In January 2010 Ascension Records reissued the band's music on disk two of a commemorative compilation CD,
Terrace Industry (ANCD036), along with bands such as Scattered Order, Systematics, A Cloakroom Assembly and Prod. In 2011 Ascension released another compilation,
41 Pardons, which also includes six songs from the band. == Members ==