Swans: Jim
With My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, the newly reconsidered Swans that Michael Gira brought back into circulation crafted my favorite album of 2010. An obnoxious and twisted vision of composition and freakshow, Gira didn’t employ the industrial or aurally shocking churn of the band’s No Wave days, but instead turned the band into an ensemble of layered thematic severity that could almost qualify as “orchestral.”
Gira/Swans just finished the follow-up and photos have been made available of the band at work. Unbelievable considering all the touring they’ve done since the My Father...’s release. Relative to their touring, Gira is also working on a live album.
I reviewed My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky for No Ripcord. If you’re interested, you can find that review here.
A blog by the name of KINGBLIND saw fit to use my Swans review without giving me credit, so I guess they liked the review enough to pass it off at their own.
All info and tour dates come courtesy of Howlin’ Wolf Media.
On July 12, Swans completed the first recording phase of their new album (as yet untitled). The recordings took place in Berlin, Germany, at Studio P4 in the former East Berlin radio station complex, and at Einsturzende Neubauten’s old studio, Andere Bausteller (see links below). Kevin McMahon (of Marcata Recording in Gardiner New York) came to Berlin to record the band. Recordings will resume at Marcata in early October, when Swans conclude their year-plus World Tour. The album will be released in early 2012.
Fans who have seen the recent Swans show will be familiar with some of the new material, which has been developing throughout the tour. They’ll also be aware that a few of the songs are now over 30 minutes in length, making their live set a comfortable 2 ½ hours long. As it turns out, the new album will likely approach that length as well. Michael Gira (who is producing the album) has yet to decide in what format(s) the album will be made available. The album will be released through Young God Records.
In other Swans news, Gira is busy compiling a live Swans album, culled from dozens of live recordings of the recent tour. Possibly a small amount will be made available in stores, but the primary form of release will be a limited edition hand made version (with wood block print and drawing by
Gira) available exclusively at younggodrecords.com. Proceeds generated from the live album will go towards defraying the costs associated with the new studio album. The live album will be available in October.
http://www.anderebaustelle.com/ ;
http://www.marcata.net/ ;
http://www.studiop4.de/
Songs being recorded for the new album include:
A Piece of the Sky
The Apostate
Avatar
Lunacy
Mother of the World
The Daughter Brings the Water
The Seer
Swans are:
Michael Gira – guitar, vocals; Norman Westberg – guitar;
Christoph Hahn – lap steel guitar, guitar; Phil Puleo – drums, percussion;
Thor Harris – drums, percussion;
Christopher Pravdica – bass.
SWANS IN STUDIO PHOTOS:
http://ameliesjostrandgereholt.smugmug.com/Other/Swans-recording/18029149_VR7xqF/#1382329135_PZHpHFQ
Swans photos by Amelie Sjöstrand Gereholt.
The Swans Tour continues:
July 15, Berlin, Germany Melt Festival- confirmed
July 16, Herk, Belgium- Rock Herk Festival- confirmed
July 17, Ostrava , Czech Republik- Ostrava Open Air Festival- confirmed
July 20, Amsterdam, NL- Melkweg- confirmed
July 21, Cologne, Germany- Gebaede Neun- confirmed
July 22, Paris, France La Maroquinerie confirmed
July 24, London, UK- ATP I’ll Be Your Mirror Festival- confirmed
09/08/2011, Baltimore, MD, Sonar
09/09/2011, Raleigh, NC, Fletcher Opera Theater - Hopscotch Festival
09/10/2011, Asheville, NC, Orange Peel
09/11/2011, Charlotte, NC, Tremont Music Hall
09/13/2011, Orland, FL, The Social
09/14/2011, West Palm Beach, FL, Respectable Street
09/15/2011, Tallahassee, FL, Engine Room
09/16/2011, Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse
09/17/2011, Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge
09/20/2011, Minneapolis, MN, First Avenue
09/21/2011, Milwaukee, WI, Turner Hall
09/22/2011, Chicago, IL, Bottom Lounge
09/23/2011, Cleveland, OH, Beachland Ballroom
09/24/2011, Lexington, KY, Buster’s Backroom
09/27/2011, Brooklyn, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
09/29/2011, Boston, MA, Royale Nightclub
10/01/2011, Asbury Park, NJ, ATP Festival at Convention Centre
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
 |
| Swans photos by Amelie Sjöstrand Gereholt |
I reviewed My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky for No Ripcord. If you’re interested, you can find that review here.
A blog by the name of KINGBLIND saw fit to use my Swans review without giving me credit, so I guess they liked the review enough to pass it off at their own.
All info and tour dates come courtesy of Howlin’ Wolf Media.
On July 12, Swans completed the first recording phase of their new album (as yet untitled). The recordings took place in Berlin, Germany, at Studio P4 in the former East Berlin radio station complex, and at Einsturzende Neubauten’s old studio, Andere Bausteller (see links below). Kevin McMahon (of Marcata Recording in Gardiner New York) came to Berlin to record the band. Recordings will resume at Marcata in early October, when Swans conclude their year-plus World Tour. The album will be released in early 2012.
Fans who have seen the recent Swans show will be familiar with some of the new material, which has been developing throughout the tour. They’ll also be aware that a few of the songs are now over 30 minutes in length, making their live set a comfortable 2 ½ hours long. As it turns out, the new album will likely approach that length as well. Michael Gira (who is producing the album) has yet to decide in what format(s) the album will be made available. The album will be released through Young God Records.
In other Swans news, Gira is busy compiling a live Swans album, culled from dozens of live recordings of the recent tour. Possibly a small amount will be made available in stores, but the primary form of release will be a limited edition hand made version (with wood block print and drawing by
Gira) available exclusively at younggodrecords.com. Proceeds generated from the live album will go towards defraying the costs associated with the new studio album. The live album will be available in October.
http://www.anderebaustelle.com/ ;
http://www.marcata.net/ ;
http://www.studiop4.de/
Songs being recorded for the new album include:
A Piece of the Sky
The Apostate
Avatar
Lunacy
Mother of the World
The Daughter Brings the Water
The Seer
Swans are:
Michael Gira – guitar, vocals; Norman Westberg – guitar;
Christoph Hahn – lap steel guitar, guitar; Phil Puleo – drums, percussion;
Thor Harris – drums, percussion;
Christopher Pravdica – bass.
SWANS IN STUDIO PHOTOS:
http://ameliesjostrandgereholt.smugmug.com/Other/Swans-recording/18029149_VR7xqF/#1382329135_PZHpHFQ
Swans photos by Amelie Sjöstrand Gereholt.
The Swans Tour continues:
July 15, Berlin, Germany Melt Festival- confirmed
July 16, Herk, Belgium- Rock Herk Festival- confirmed
July 17, Ostrava , Czech Republik- Ostrava Open Air Festival- confirmed
July 20, Amsterdam, NL- Melkweg- confirmed
July 21, Cologne, Germany- Gebaede Neun- confirmed
July 22, Paris, France La Maroquinerie confirmed
July 24, London, UK- ATP I’ll Be Your Mirror Festival- confirmed
09/08/2011, Baltimore, MD, Sonar
09/09/2011, Raleigh, NC, Fletcher Opera Theater - Hopscotch Festival
09/10/2011, Asheville, NC, Orange Peel
09/11/2011, Charlotte, NC, Tremont Music Hall
09/13/2011, Orland, FL, The Social
09/14/2011, West Palm Beach, FL, Respectable Street
09/15/2011, Tallahassee, FL, Engine Room
09/16/2011, Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse
09/17/2011, Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge
09/20/2011, Minneapolis, MN, First Avenue
09/21/2011, Milwaukee, WI, Turner Hall
09/22/2011, Chicago, IL, Bottom Lounge
09/23/2011, Cleveland, OH, Beachland Ballroom
09/24/2011, Lexington, KY, Buster’s Backroom
09/27/2011, Brooklyn, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
09/29/2011, Boston, MA, Royale Nightclub
10/01/2011, Asbury Park, NJ, ATP Festival at Convention Centre
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
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