The new Swans‘ LP To Be Kind will come out May 13th via Michael Gira‘s Young God label here in the US, and on Mute Records in the UK and Europe. Recorded by John Congleton at the Sonic Ranch outside El Paso, TX, the album’s musicians include longtime Swan’s guitarist Norman Westberg, lap steel player Christoph Hahn, drummers Thor Harris and Phil Puleo, as well as bassist Christopher Pravdica. The album will also feature guest vocal appearances from St. Vincent’s Annie Clark, Cold Sparks’ Al Spx, and Little Annie, as well as the musicians Julia Kent, and honorary Swans collaborator Bill Rieflin. On the brilliant track “Oxygen“, Swans get right down to business with a terse and ripping dialogue between the band’s guitars and drums, and as it gains momentum and force of action, the track’s martial and masculine energy is hard to deny. Loose and tight all at once, “Oxygen”‘s athletic, focused attack becomes the perfect container for Gira’s wild and pummeling vocal outbursts, and after the cut’s thrilling midpoint, “Oxygen” launches into an insane revelry of buzz sawing sonics and Gira’s maniacal ranting. The result obliterates everything in earshot, and I reckon this will definitely stand as one of the best tracks by year’s end! Swans have a fairly extensive tour planned for the US, Canada, and the UK, so check the dates out below.
SWANS “OXYGEN” (TO BE KIND)
Swans “To Be Kind” is out May 13th (12th U.K.) via Young God Records / Mute. Pre-order your copy of the 2CD, 2CD+DVD or 3LP (SIGNED BY M. GIRA) from the Young God Records webstore here: http://bit.ly…
Swans Summer Tour 2014:
05-14 Washington, DC – Black Cat Mainstage *
05-15 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer *
05-17 Boston, MA – Royale Nightclub *
05-18 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
05-19 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg *
05-22 Manchester, England – Academy 2 *
05-23 Newcastle, England – Hoults Yard *
05-24 Glasgow, Scotland – The Arches *
05-25 Aberdeen, Scotland – The Lemon Tree *
05-27 London, England – Brixton Electric *
05-28 Bristol, England – Trinity Community Arts *
05-29 Reading, England – Sub89 *
05-31 Birmingham, England – Supersonic Festival – Custard Factory *
06-01 Leeds, England – Cockpit
06-02 Brighton, England – Concorde 2
06-17 Quebec City, Quebec – Le Cercle
06-18 Montreal, Quebec – Theatre National
06-20 Toronto, Ontario – MNW Festival (Yonge-Dundas Square)
06-21 Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall
06-22 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
06-24 St. Louis, MO The Ready Room
06-26 Dallas, TX – Trees
06-27 Austin, TX – Mohawk
06-28 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Upstairs
06-30 Nashville, TN – Exit / In
07-01 Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
07-02 Louisville, KY – The New Vintage
07-03 Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater
07-05 Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall
07-06 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
# Michael Gira solo
* with Jenny Hval
