"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.