Swans: Swan Dark Lake

 

Swans are an American experimental rock band formed in 1981 by singer, songwriter and multi-

instrumentalist Michael Gira. One of the few acts to emerge from the New York City-based no wave scene and stay intact into the next decade, Swans have become recognized for an ever-changing sound, exploring genres such as noise rock, post-punk, industrial and post-rock.
                    

Initially, their music was known for its sonic brutality and misanthropic lyrics. Following the addition

of singer, songwriter and keyboardist Jarboe in 1986, Swans began to incorporate melody and intricacy into their music. Jarboe remained the band's only constant member except Gira and semi-constant guitarist Norman Westberg until their dissolution in 1997.
                    

One of the trademarks of Swans' early period was playing at painfully loud volumes during concerts,

sometimes leading to police stopping shows. 1986's Greed was not as brutal or noisy as Swans' previous releases, while still being an extremely ominous and dark record. It also saw two new and significant musicians join the group. New bassist Algis Kizys would become a long-time, near-constant member, as would new vocalist/keyboardist Jarboe (who had joined the band a month before the release of the 1985 "Time Is Money (Bastard)" 12-inch, on which she had been credited simply with "scream").
                  

Marginally associated with the no wave scene initially, their original sound was slow and extremely

heavy, best heard on the live album Public Castration Is a Good Idea. By the time Swans released twin albums Greed and Holy Money the music had sped up. Drum machines and samples were slightly more prominent. Michael Gira was joined vocally by Jarboe which gave the band a broader sonic range.
                 

In 2010, Gira re-formed the band without Jarboe, establishing a stable lineup of musicians which has

toured worldwide and released four albums to critical acclaim. This iteration of the group performed its last shows in November 2017, ending the tour in support of its final album The Glowing Man. Since 2019, Gira has been touring and recording with Swans as "a revolving cast of contributors". The band's latest album, The Beggar, was released on June 23, 2023. Since 1990, all Swans records have been released through Gira's own label, Young God Records.
                        

Swans' music has transformed greatly over the decades, but is typically dark and "apocalyptic",

often focusing on themes of power, religion, sex and death, and has been most generally associated with experimental rock. According to Spin, the band demonstrates "unparalleled ability to translate the absurd violence of the human condition into music that’s as intoxicating as it is intense."
              

1. SWANS - CHILDREN OF GOD + WORLD OF SKIN
                       

Swans – Children Of God / World Of Skin
Label: Young God Records – YG02
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2010
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Avantgarde, Experimental

                    

1a.  SWANS - CHILDREN OF GOD 1987

                   

Kicking off with "New Mind" -- which, while having the same general pace of most earlier Swans songs, also sounds distinctly different with its clearer, inventive arrangement, call-and-response vocals,

and Gira's declamatory but not screamed lead vocal -- Children of God finds the band making their own particular great leap forward. The simmering changes that were apparent in the albums just before this one's release fully come to the fore, as Swans take the courage to explore both their huge-sounding, bombastic side and gentle, if often still disturbing, delicacy (due credit especially to Westberg, Kizys, and Parsons, possibly the best musical lineup Swans ever had until the final years).
                           

The results are fascinating, ranging from the spare piano melting into ambient feedback of "In My

Garden" and the twisted gospel blues of "Our Love Lies" to the acoustic guitar and organ on "You're Not Real, Girl" and the raging pounder "Beautiful Child." Equally importantly, if not more so, Jarboe now assumes a full role with Gira as co-leader of the band; while all lyrics are still Gira's, the two share lead vocal duties (though aside from the title track, no duets) throughout the album.

01. New Mind    5:12
02. In My Garden    5:34
03. Our Love Lies    4:32
04. Sex, God, Sex    6:34
05. Blood And Honey    4:46
06. Like A Drug    5:33
07. You're Not Real, Girl    4:19
08. Beautiful Child    5:15
09. Blackmail    3:33
10. Trust Me    4:26
11. Real Love    6:22
12. Blind Love    7:44
13. Children Of God    4:34
14. I'll Swallow You    4:38

Flac Size: 445 MB

1b.  SKIN - THE WORLD OF SKIN

                    

  
The World of Skin was a music project springing out of the American group Swans, which was a collaboration between the core Swans members Michael Gira and Jarboe. The project was initially called Skin, with the first two albums being released under that name, the last one being released under

the name the World of Skin. In the UK, the first two albums were released by Product Inc., an imprint of Mute Records, while the last was released on Gira's own Young God label. Swans' album Greed began a trend toward greater use of melody, and this trend continued with the later Children of God. The work performed as Skin was initially in marked contrast with the less overtly melodic but contemporaneous Swans work, but later Swans work integrated the two aspects.
                

They released two albums and 2 12" releases as Skin: Blood, Women, Roses and Shame, Humility,

Revenge were the albums and Girl: come out and One Thousand Years were the 12"s. After changing the name to The World of Skin released an album entitled Ten Songs for Another World. Currently, most of the songs from the first two albums have been repackaged as a "best of" album with the remastered version of Swans' Children of God.

 

 

MEMBERS

Michael Gira - vocals, guitar, keyboards, samples, sounds (1987–1990)
Jarboe - vocals, keyboards, sounds (1987–1990)
Norman Westberg - guitar (1988)
Harry Crosby - bass (1988)

TRAXS      

    
01. 1,000 Years   3:59
Arranged By – Billy McGee/Cello – Linda Miller
02. Everything At Once   4:28
Oboe [Indian] – A. Kadir Dorvesh
03. Cry Me A River
04. Breathing Water    4:20
05. Blood On Your Hands    4:01
06. Nothing Without You    5:53
07. We'll Fall Apart    4:40
08. I Want To Be Your Dog
09. My Own Hands   4:53
Arranged By – Billy McGee/Cello – Linda Miller
10. Turn To Stone    5:17
11. Cold Bed    2:24
12. 24 Hours    4:11
13. Red Rose    4:26
14. One Small Sacrifice    6:40
15. Still A Child    5:20
16. The Center Of Your Heart   4:40
Oboe [Indian] – A. Kadir Dorvesh

Flac Size: 389 MB

LINE - UP

Bass – Al Kyzis (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)
Cello – Audrey Riley (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14), Martin McCarrick (tracks: 2-1 to 2-16)
Double Bass – Billy McGee (tracks: 2-1 to 2-16)
Drums – Ted Parsons (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Norman Westberg (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)
Flute – Simon Fraser (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)
Oboe – Lindsay Cooper (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)
Piano – William Barnhardt (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)
Viola – Chris Pitzaldi (tracks: 2-1 to 2-16)
Violin – Chris Tombling (tracks: 2-1 to 2-16), Gini Ball (tracks: 2-1 to 2-16)
Voice, Sounds, Piano, Keyboards – Jarboe
Voice, Sounds, Sampler [Samples], Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica – M. Gira

2.  SWANS - WHITE LIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF INFINITY 1991 + LOVE OF LIFE 1992 (DELUXE EDITION) 2015
                           

Swans – White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity / Love Of Life
Label: Young God Records – YG49
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Compilation, Remastered Dec 4, 2015
Country: US
Released: 1991 -1992    
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk

2a.  SWANS - WHITE LIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF INFINITY 1991

                     

The opening track "Better Than You" almost says it all: Starting with the wail of an infant, then

suddenly crashing into surging music that mixes quick, energetic drums with bells and other instruments, the song turns into a dramatic acoustic guitar/percussion piece with Gira's brooding voice and Jarboe's haunting backing; after some re-developments of the themes, it ends with a beautiful restatement of the sung section with additional guitar and bell sounds.
               

At once incredibly destructive and astoundingly life-affirming -- and worth the entire Burning World album several times over -- "Better Than You" demonstrates that Swans had emerged from their major-label fiasco even more powerful and artistic than before, aiming for an awesome, all-encompassing

majesty in their music that the admittedly hypnotic earlier versions of the band, in their brute forcefulness, simply could not have achieved. Interestingly, a number of players from Burning World and other Bill Laswell associates participate on White Light, but here Gira as sole producer marshals everyone's collective efforts to heights that Laswell either was unwilling or unable to do. Simply put, this is out and out brilliant as the clear starting point for the second half of Swans' unique career.

2b.  SWANS - LOVE OF LIFE 1992

             

Interspersed with a variety of instrumental pieces and loops which add nicely to the album's overall flow -- including a number of random interview clips which would become an even more central motif

to the band's work in future albums -- Love of Life continues the astounding creative roll Swans found themselves on with White Light. As with that album, the group here consists first and foremost of Gira and Jarboe, with a variety of assisting performers: Westberg has finally left the picture entirely, leaving Steele as the new main guitarist, and interestingly enough, two long-time veterans return -- the rhythm section of Kizys and Parsons -- though other bassists and drummers perform on the album as well.
                  

Again, though, this is very much Gira and Jarboe's album, given that they're in charge of all

songwriting, as well as all keyboards and arrangements, building from the newly refined combination of epic scope and delicacy of touch from White Light. With such further successes as the first gentle then pounding love song "Her" (combined with a poignant interview clip) and the snarling kick of "Amnesia" to its overall credit as well, Love of Life unsurprisingly proves to be yet another Swans

CD1. WHITE LIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF INFINITY         

             

01. Better Than You    5:51
02. Power And Sacrifice    5:36
03. You Know Nothing    5:46
04. Song For The Dead Time    4:59
05. Will We Survive    5:59
06. Love Will Save You    6:07
07. Failure    6:20
08. Song For The Sun    5:03
09. Miracle Of Love    6:43
10. Blind    4:31
11. When She Breathes    4:31
12. Why Are We Alive    6:00
13. The Most Unfortunate Lie    5:02

Flac Size: 473 MB

CD2.  LOVE OF LIFE         

                    

  
01. (---) Pt. 1    0:16
02. Love Of Life    3:41
03. The Golden Boy That Was Swallowed By The Sea    4:31
04. (---) Pt. 2    0:37
05. (---) Pt. 3    2:06
06. The Other Side Of The World    4:39
07. Her    5:24
08. The Sound Of Freedom    4:34
09. (---) Pt. 4     0:34
10. Amnesia     4:19
11. Identity    4:30
12. (---) Pt. 5    1:02
13. Eyes Of Nature    4:41
14. She Cries (For Spider)    4:57
15. God Loves America    3:43
16. (---) Pt. 6    1:19
17. No Cure For The Lonely    2:56

Flac Size: 354 MB

CD3. BONUS CD        

                   

  
01. Amnesia (Long)    7:42
02. Song For Dead Time (Mg Version)    4:34
03. You Know Everything    4:25
04. Mother’s Milk    4:36
05. The Child’s Right    3:36
06. Love Of Life (Short)    3:19
07. Unfortunate Lie (Inst. Version)    2:17
08. No Cruel Angel    4:28
09. Black Eyed Dog    3:48
10. Love Of Life (Long)    6:07
11. Picture Of Maryanne    4:21
12. Amnesia (Live)    6:20
13. Dream Dream    5:32
14. Please Remember Me    4:37
15. Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes    1:17
16. The Unknown     6:45
17. Blood On Your Hands     3:11
18. A Young Girl Needs    2:34

Flac Size: 489 MB

BLIND

               

Blind is the tenth and final track on the album Drainland by Michael Gira. The song was originally recorded during studio sessions for White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity by Swans, but it was ultimately omitted from the album upon release. The 2015 remaster of White Light... reinstates Blind back into the track list as the tenth track.

BLIND - LYRICS

                    

Now some of us are weak and some endure
Some people live their life, with a violence that's pure and clean

                

But I saw a man cry once, down on his knees
In the corner of a darkened cell, and his pain meant nothing to me

But I was younger then young men never die
When I walked out in the sun, I was strong, clear-minded and blind

              

Now don't say a prayer for anyone, it doesn't do any good
Please don't ask me questions, it'd just be misunderstood
And if you could step inside me you'd feel what hatred brings
And if you saw with my eyes, you'd see what self-deception means

I was younger once, and I created a lie
And though my body was strong, I was self-deluded, confident, and blind

              

Now show some pity, for the weak of will
Because when we're drinking, we can never be filled
Show some understanding for a lonely fool
Because when I'm drinking, I am out of control
Well I was never young, nothing has transpired
And when I look in the mirror, I feel dead, I feel cold, I am blind

I am blind
Mmm
I am blind
I am blind

POWER AND SACRIFICE LYRICS

                    

I want power, because it feels good
I want power, I'll wash America with blood
I want power, a clear blue light in the sky
I feel power running through my veins and out my eyes
And into empty, godforsaken minds without reality
I feel power, I feel a sacrifice
I am dead to right or wrong
                       

I want power, just like our father knew
I want power, I'll put my hands in you
I want power, though the Earth is lost and spinning
I feel power buried in the ground
Where twenty million died like heroes
Stealing this same power that I'm feeling
I feel power, I feel a sacrifice
Now, my blood is feeling clean
And I feel the power burning like a spear inside of me

              

I feel good, I feel right
I feel a sacrifice, I am right
I am right, I am right
I am right, I'm right
I feel good, I feel right
I am right, I'm right

LINE - UP

        

Acoustic Guitar – Clinton Steele, Christoph Hahn, Michael R. Gira, Nicky Skopelitis
Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Choral/Orchestral Arrangements] – Jarboe
Baglama, Bouzouki, Banjo – Nicky Skopelitis
Bass Guitar – Jenny Wade
Drum Programming, Drums – Anton Fier
Electric Guitar – Clinton Steele, Christoph Hahn, Nicky Skopelitis, Norman Westberg
Guitar [12 String], Mandolin – Steve Burgh
Keyboards, Voice – Jarboe, Michael R. Gira
Percussion – Vincent Signorelli
Sampler, Sounds – Michael R. Gira
Violin – Hahn Rowe

3.  SWANS - THE GREAT ANNIHILATOR 1994 + MICHAEL GIRA: DRAINLAND 1995

                  

Swans – The Great Annihilator - Drainland
Label: Young God Records – YG59
Format: CD, Album, CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: Apr 28, 2017
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Alternative Rock, Folk Rock

                     

3a.  SWANS - THE GREAT ANNIHILATOR 1994

                     

As is par for the course by now, Swans seem incapable of producing a bad album, and Annihilator is crammed full of astonishing songs to prove it. Everything's a little more stripped-down here, possibly

due to having a central band, but it's still all very lushly arranged and created, perfectly balancing force and restraint. Lead-off single "Celebrity Lifestyle" is one of the catchiest things the band has ever done, but it's still uniquely Swans -- a minimal, throbbing song matched with a sharp lyric on starlust and what it might mean. "I Am the Sun" pounds as hard as any early Swans track, but the use of careful space between blasts, Gira's heavily echoed, out-of-nowhere vocal (accentuated by equally vivid background vocals from Jarboe), and tempo shifts clearly demonstrates the constantly evolving nature

of Swans music; the band is never content to simply repeat the past. Jarboe's own stand-out tracks include "Mother/Father," a brawling number showcasing both her and the band at their full-on best, and "My Buried Child," with her softly husked take on a terrifying Gira lyric, which is carried by a roiling rhythm. This is followed immediately by the sweeping, cinematic "Warm," where she contributes wordless vocals. Once again, Swans have created an epic, incredible work of art.
                    

3b.  MICHAEL GIRA - DRAINLAND 1995

                

Given how Gira made Swans such a personal and broad-ranging vehicle for his art over the years, it would have been more than understandable if Drainland, released as a complement to Jarboe's album

from the same year Sacrificial Cake, turned out to be Swans redux album as a result. As it happens, it's less of a mixed bag than Jarboe's own musically varied solo efforts, yet it has distinct strengths. Assisted by Jarboe and late-period Swans member Bill Rieflin, at whose Seattle home most of the album was recorded, Gira brings his expected bleak, alienated but still heartfelt lyrical visions to the fore, steering away from the full, epic grind of Swans and towards a variety of more restrained musical visions.
                      

CD1.  SWANS - THE FREAT ANNIHILATOR 1994

                   

          
01. In    2:22
02. I Am The Sun    3:21
03. She Lives    6:59
04. Celebrity Lifestyle    4:07
05. Mother/Father    4:04
06. Blood Promise    4:15
07. Mind/Body/Light/Sound    4:41
08. My Buried Child (Drums [Hand Drum] – Martin Atkins)   2:56
09. Warm (Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis)   4:52
10. Alcohol The Seed    3:27
11. Killing For Company    6:51
12. Mother's Milk    2:25
13. Where Does A Body End?    3:36
14. Telepathy    6:05
15. The Great Annihilator    4:54
16. Out (Double Bass – Lary Seven)   2:15
17. I Am The Sun (Live At The Flesh Club)    6:07

THE GREAT ANNIHILATOR - LYRICS

               

One second burns for a billion years
And time is relative
And light is physical

We feel your body
We feel your feelings
We see the eye of god shine through the citadel
And space is empty behind the universe
The past and future were simultaneous.

                

Inside your body we feel your emptiness
The light we breathe in is your unconsciousness
And your body disappears,
Burning backwards through the years
And in your hands time was made

And through breathing
You'll erase it
But we can see forever.
Before love and hate
And we will fall right through the wall of the place where we were made
Right into the open mouth of the great annihilator

Flac Size: 451 MB

CD2.  MICHAEL GIRA - DRAINLAND 1995

                   

  
01. You See Through Me    5:41
02. Where Does Your Body Begin?    3:04
03. I See Them All Lined Up    4:13
04. Unreal    4:48
05. Fan Letter    7:01
06. Your Naked Body    2:30
07. Low Life Form    3:41
08. If You...    4:41
09. Why I Ate My Wife    5:53
10. Blind    4:33

Flac Size: 282 MB

Swans on Urban Aspirines HERE
SKIN on Urban Aspirines HERE (Vinyl MP3 Rip & CD Flac Rip)