A Quartet of Amateur Music Reviews

[The Silent One]

Omniscience by Swans (1992, Young God); Horse Rotorvator by Coil (1987, Some Bizarre/2001, Threshold House); Castaways and Cutouts by the Decemberists (2002, Hush/2005, Jealous Butcher); The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967, Verve; 1996, Polydor)
By J.H. Malerman, a.k.a. The Silent One

Omniscience (Swans)

In Swans' long and strange career, few periods in their history have been more lauded than the era stretching from 1989-1992, perhaps excepting 1987's Children of God. The recordings here were culled from the 1992 world tour for the same year's Love of Life, and are considered by many to be their best. Although I may not be absolutely sure about that, it is a truly excellent album. One noticeable difference between Omniscience and another Swans live album, say, I don't know, Public Castration is a Good Idea or Feel Good Now, other than the obvious stylistic differences, is the fact that it doesn't seem quite as live. But how can that be? Well, it isn't huge, but it is noticeable that this album was digitally tweaked in the studio

[To be continued.]