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"SWANS ARE NOT DEAD" (MySpace Swans, January 2010)That's right: This influential noise formation from New York was established in ’82 and split in ’97 but is now back back with a vengeance...
"SWANS ARE NOT DEAD" (MySpace Swans, January 2010)
That's right: This influential noise formation from New York was established in ’82 and split in ’97 but is now back back with a vengeance. So too the stunning minimal and repetitive noise that characterised the Swans in their early days, arising from the New York no wave scene that also contained Sonic Youth. Think too: stripped guitars, hypnotising riffs and drums that sound like sledgehammer blows. Add to that the morbid, violent lyrics of pivotal figure Michael Gira (who was inspired by Jean Genet and Marquis de Sade) and the themes depression, death, greed and desperation sound more logical than they do abnormal. Live, the Swans often performed on the painful edge of a sound barrier.
Over their 15 year existence, frontman Michael Gira, singer Jarboe and guitarist Norman Westerberg were the most constant members of the company. Their album titles where generally brief, but bold: ‘Filth’ (their debut from ’83, also the period that Sonic Youth released ‘Confusion is Sex’ and ‘Kill Your Idols’), ‘Cop’ (’84) and ‘Greed’. Their musical turning point took place with Swan's ‘Children of God’, which contained the introduction of more acoustic instruments. Also noteworthy: their cover version of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ (from ’88) that was later described by Gira as “a mistake”. They flirted with pop some more on their only album to be released via a major label (MCA): ‘The Burning World’ (produced by Bill Laswell, later described by Gira as “a mismatch”). ‘The Great Annihilator’ (from ‘95) is generally considered to be their most accessible album. The curtain fell for good over the Swans with ‘Soundtracks For The Blind’ (from ‘96) and the associated world tour.
The Swans once played a sensational show in the AB (in the former Bar American) in ‘86. Gira later appeared regularly in the ABClub under his own name or under his moniker Angels Of Light, then often in the good company of the likes of Devendra Banhart (who is also to be heard on the new Swans album) or Akron/Family. All acts that Gira discovered and signed to his famous Young God label, by the way (see too: Lisa Germano, Larkin Grimm, James Blackshaw,…)
Another piece of trivia to finish with? The origins of the name Swans? We quote Gira: "Swans are majestic, beautiful looking creatures. With really ugly temperaments.".
Line up: Michael Gira (original Swans): guitar - voice / mendicant friar act Norman Westberg (original Swans): guitar Christoph Hahn (mid period Swans, most Angels of Light): guitar Phil Puleo (final Swans tour, most Angels of Light): drums, percussion, dulcimer Chris Pravdica (Flux Information Sciences, Services, Gunga Din): bass / gadgets Thor Harris (Angels of Light, Shearwater): drums, percussion, vibes, dulcimer, curios, keys
Support act will be James Blackshaw. Blackshaw just recently signed to Michael Gira's Young God Records, on which he released 'The Glass Bead Game' in '09. With his twelve-string guitar, he's clearly a student of that other finger-picking performer, John Fahey. Gira about Blackshaw: "He lays out patterns and shapes that subtly shift over time and lead you to a deeply satisfying mental state. Recently, driving around with the car stereo blasting his music I found myself inexplicably weeping." David Fricke (Rolling Stone Magazine) didn't let the side down either: "One of the best and most original instrumentalists in the new, acoustic renaissance". So be sure to be there on time.
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last time i saw the swans was with childeen of god tour with a wall of noise micheal gira spreading his naked buttocks and anus right in the audiences faces whilr beeing crucified by a sound thats louder then a truck driving over u the bassist bass had a pool of blood since he ripped his fingers open slapping thz bassthe doors where locked and it was beautifull full noise hell I ll Be there I saw Swans from ultra noise untill almost accustisch and unlike their records Live they are BRILLIANT ALWAYS
it was a timewarp, backwards or forwards, ik weet het, in ieder geval waren we plots 2 uur later, het was verdomd geen opgewarmde-lijken-concert, onmiddelijk een t-shirt gekocht, PRAISE the SWANS
Ik vond het geweldig ! Jammer genoeg ging de zang een beetje verloren in de geluidsmuur, iets wat MG pas op t laatste ontdekte.
t Voorprogramma was verschrikkelijk.
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Inderdaad, oordopjes niet vergeten. Swans speelden vroeger - doen ze het nu nog? - wel eens zó luid dat mensen in het publiek er, letterlijk, van moesten kotsen.
"Gisteren de nieuwe Swans cd gehad." @ Johan; ik heb hem ook al paar keer beluisterd en was echt aangenaam verrast moet ik zeggen, had er niet veel van verwacht eigenlijk maar klinkt opvallend fris en niet gedateerd zoals dat met zulke groepen soms is.. ik zie dan ook al uit naar 25 nov.
Gisteren de nieuwe Swans cd gehad. Eerst vond ik hem meer als Angels of Light dan de oude Swans klinken, maar na meer beluisterbeurten wordt het wel een verslaving ! Ik kan niet wachten tot 25 november !
Ik heb het mijne ook een paar dagen na de bestelling ontvangen, heb bevestigingsmail nog in uw mailbox of zo SQNCS? best die bewaren en afprinten als bewijs , eventueel contact opnemen met AB zelf (en een kopie van het betalingsbewijs bij de mail voegen of zo ) het is maar een gedacht
@ Johan buiten mij zijn er weinig postbodes die fan zijn van Swans vrees ik lol :D
@SQNCS : Ik heb mijn tickets een paar dagen na de betaling gehad.
Misschien wil je postbode een gratis concertje meepikken, maar dan heeft hij het verkeerde genre gekozen denk ik.
Mooie review alvast in The Wire van deze maand over het nieuwe album 'My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky' (met o.a. DEVENDRA BANHART als guest): "Swans are alive, utterly. A terrible beauty is reborn."
Er bestaat een hemel (of is het de hel). Kan iemand me laten weten of er nog andere Swans concerten rond deze tijd in andere steden plaatsvinden, desnoods in Nederland ?
