New SWANS Album Up for Pre Order

Mad Madison

Mad Madison

Chymist
(Copied & pasted from younggodrecords.com)


PRE ORDER FOR A MAY 13TH RELEASE.

Young God Records is delighted to announce the release of a new album, To Be Kind, out on May 13, 2014. The album will be released on Young God Records (North America) and Mute in the rest of the world.

A NOTE FROM MICHAEL GIRA:

Hello There,

We (Swans) have recently completed our new album. It is called To Be Kind. The release date is set for May 13, 2014. It will be available as a triple vinyl album, a double CD, and a 2XCD Deluxe Edition that will include a live DVD. It will also be available digitally.

The album was produced by me, and it was recorded by the venerable John Congleton at Sonic Ranch, outside El Paso Texas, and further recordings and mixing were accomplished at John’s studio in Dallas, Texas. We commenced rehearsals as Sonic Ranch in early October 2013, began recording soon thereafter, then completed the process of mixing with John in Dallas by mid December 2013.

A good portion of the material for this album was developed live during the Swans tours of 2012/13. Much of the music was otherwise conjured in the studio environment.

The recordings and entire process of this album were generously and perhaps vaingloriously funded by Swans supporters through our auspices at younggodrecords.com via the release of a special, handmade 2xCD live album entitled Not Here / Not Now. See details here: http://bit.ly/1igMi70

The Swans are: Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Christoph Hahn, Phil Puleo, Thor Harris, Christopher Pravdica.

Special Guests for this record include: Little Annie (Annie sang a duet with me on the song Some Things We Do, the strings for which were ecstatically arranged and played by Julia Kent); St. Vincent (Annie Clark sang numerous, multi-tracked vocals throughout the record); Cold Specks (Al contributed numerous multi-tracked vocals to the song “Bring the Sun”); Bill Rieflin (honorary Swan Bill played instruments ranging from additional drums, to synthesizers, to piano, to electric guitar and so on. He has been a frequent contributor to Swans and Angels of Light and is currently playing with King Crimson)...

FULL MUSICIAN CREDITS:Swans: Michael Gira - vocals, electric and acoustic guitar; Norman Westberg - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals; Phil Puleo - drums, percussion, dulcimer, piano, keys, vocals; Christoph Hahn - lap steel guitars, electric guitar, vocals; Thor Harris - drums / percussion, vibes and bells, wind instruments, handmade viola, vocals; Christopher Pravdica - bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals. Honorary Swan Forever: Bill Rieflin - (on multiple songs throughout the record) drums / percussion, piano, bass, guitar, synths, keyboards. Guest Musicians: Duet with MG on Some Things We Do - Little Annie. Strings and String Arrangement on Some Things We Do - Julia Kent. Background Vocals on Nathalie Neal, Bring the Sun, Screen Shot, Kirsten Supine - St. Vincent (appears courtesy of Loma Vista Recordings). Background vocals on Bring the Sun - Cold Specks (appears courtesy of Mute Artists LTD). Background Vocals on She Loves Us, A Little God in My Hands - Jennifer Church. More Musicians (Dallas): Violin - Daniel Hart; Mandolin - Rex Emerson; Trombone - David Pierce; Trumpet - Evan Weiss; Piano, Harpsichord, Synth - Sean Kirkpatrick; Piano – John Congleton.

I love you! Michael Gira
 
Ordered the album along with The Seer, the one before the seer (My father...) and a t shirt a few days ago...
I still love Swans but how I miss Jarboe...is indeed a new phase without her.
 
Have pre-ordered this too. I'm still digesting The Seer, which is among my favourite albums of the last couple of years, and along comes another 2cd album. I'm seeing them live in May as well, should be good.
 
I'm a bit over 30 minutes into the stream and so far the album is fantastic. Definitely gonna need a copy in my shelf.
 
I've seen Swans a couple of times, once during the "My father..." tour and last year for the "The Seer" tour. Last year's gig was INTENSE, it lasted almost three hours, or at least it felt that way. Both times I've been a meager three meters from the stage, but the immensity of the sound didn't manifest until the second time.

By the end of the concert I was reeling, my throat was dry and I downed a pint in two or three big gulps. I had to sit down and try and digest what I had just seen. It happened during a Spring music festival, out in the open, and just before Swans I'd seen many other bands. None of them (Neurosis, Om, some more) could even compare to what I had just gone through. The only other guy who was able to pull off what Michael Gira did that night was Nick Cave, right the next night.

I'm really looking forward to this album and the inevitable concert :eek:
 
I do not, for the life of me, see how anyone can think their last two albums are up to the melancholy depth of the their mid-period, reflected perfectly in VARIOUS FAILURES. Haven't heard this latest. I am glad they are finally being recognized, but it's their catalog that should be given priority.
 
I remember getting The Seer and listening to it once and think it was really overwhelming. But I haven't listened to it much since. I don't know what it is about newer Swans material. Everybody seems to get it, but it doesn't do much for me, I'm afraid.
 
I was just told that my order has been shipped. From the few times I listened to an advance promotional copy (it's simply a matter of time ;)) I got the impression that it picks up where "The Seer" left off - maybe a bit funkier. Anyway, the last two times I saw them live I was blown away. I wouldn't necessarily describe the music as aggressive - but extremely physical. The question is if some of the longer tracks on the last two albums (it may be difficult to call them songs - at least in a conventional sense) are more suited for a live situation than for listening at home. I haven't made up my mind yet, though.
 
SwansSoilMe/SwansSaveMe said:
I do not, for the life of me, see how anyone can think their last two albums are up to the melancholy depth of the their mid-period, reflected perfectly in VARIOUS FAILURES. Haven't heard this latest. I am glad they are finally being recognized, but it's their catalog that should be given priority.
Click to expand...

that´s exactly what I think.
"My Father..." was just Gira testing waters (it may be blasphemy but "Look at me go", the continuous 40 minute piece made out of unused sounds is more intersting than the album)

Can´t really comment on "The Seer" because until then I didn´t listen to it with proper care.Will do when my order arrives.

I liked what I heard of "To be Kind" but is no match for "Soundtracks..." or their "World of Skin" Project
 
The last two albums might be described as the musical equivalent of Libeskind's Jewish Museum in Berlin - terror and cruelty lurks in every twisted corner.

But there's something else too - a yearning for beauty perhaps, or a promise of transcendence. Even in Libeskind's dark building light creeps in.

From the little I have heard, the new album sounds very promising and much more diverse than My Father ... and The Seer.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NQyDKbGVOg Nice review from Fantano. I can't remember him liking an album this much. Still waiting on mine from Amazon, and I am getting VERY impatient.
 
I couldn´t wait until my album arrives (probably it will get here only in about a month) and I downloaded a pirate copy about a week ago.
I started with cd two and it´s really something special!
My favorite record of the year so far along with Thantifaxath´s "Sacred White Noise"
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top