Swans

[Mad Madison]

Anyone have any thoughts on Swans' two latest releases, We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head and/or The Seer?

[Masonwire]

Quote Originally Posted by Mad Madison

Anyone have any thoughts on Swans' two latest releases, We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head and/or The Seer?

The Seer was for me one of the strongest albums of 2013. But, I guess, what really is the ultimate Swans-experience is a concert. I saw them about two yeras ago and the sheer physical aspect was amazing. And that was not only due to the (incredible) volume.

[Draugen]

Quote Originally Posted by Mad Madison

Anyone have any thoughts on Swans' two latest releases, We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head and/or The Seer?

It took me a long time to get to grips with The Seer, it is truely immense. Having left it and come back to it I can say it's one of my favourite albums of 2012. And thats saying something, because 2012 was an incredibly strong year for the types of music I like.

I read that Gira said this album took 30 years to make, which is about right, as it covers aspects from their entire career in one record. What an album!

[luciferfell]

Swans are playing in Pittsburgh in june. Just a heads up.

[Nigromontanus]

If anyone happens to be in Bucharest this May 18th: Swans will be offering an exclusive night at Club Control, which happens to be just a couple of minutes away from the old decadent Cafe Capsa (which some of you might remember as the starting place in Mark Valentine's novella, The Seven Treasures of Bucharest from The Nightfarers).

Asa arata noul CONTROL Club | Feeder

I will be tremendously happy to meet any of you, if your travels will bring you to Bucharest at that time. A chance to bring some books in person, share some bourbon, smoke some cigars &c.

Make sure you come properly equipped for the Swans, though: don't forget the earplugs.

Regards,
Dan

[Sand]

Earplugs, yes. But also bring dice. Remember, we still await the antimony to Zeno. The most fortunate fate has, as far as we know, still not been thrown.

[Cnev]

The Seer was actually my introduction to them and has become one of my favorite releases of last year. It spurred me begin collecting their entire catalog. Pretty mind-blowing musical experience, I think. I'm a huge fan of the ambient/noise artist Ben Frost, and on his most recent album he titled a song, "We Love You Michael Gira". I had no idea who he was referring to at the time and just blew it off as some rando guy that Frost knew and wanted to dedicate a song to. After listening to The Seer, Swans became one of those bands that makes me wonder how they managed to go unnoticed by me. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

[beetlebox]

I'm completely new to the music of Swans, is "The Seer" album a good place to start?

[Masonwire]

Quote Originally Posted by beetlebox

I'm completely new to the music of Swans, is "The Seer" album a good place to start?

Difficult question. Swans have gone through so many different phases, I guess it's not possible to find an album that is representative. If you are interested in late(r) Swans, the predecessor of "The Seer", "My father will guide me up a rope to the sky", is maybe more accesible (which doesn't necessarily mean better) and is focused more on songs than on tracks as the songs on that album were originally planned for another Angels of Light-album.
It may be seen as a kind of transitional album between the sheer rawness of the early period and later more melodic works, but "Children of God" is fantastic.

[Severini]

Quote Originally Posted by beetlebox

I'm completely new to the music of Swans, is "The Seer" album a good place to start?

No.Believe me.
The Seer is huge.It´s peaks and valleys of sound and intensity.
It sounds great on paper but it can put you off real fast."Mother of the World", track 2, for instance, spends most of its running time getting on a 2/2 groove that may sound that something happened to the track...did the cd skip?
But no.It is as it is and Gira doesn´t care less if you or I find it strange...
I strongly sugest that you start with Children of God\World Of Skin.I think is the most ballanced stage of the Swans (in studio).
if I didn´t convince you, you may start with Soundtracks for the Blind (my favorite).It is a double album, has a good share of epics, repetition, intensity and has much more variety than The Seer.