As the sweltering start to the UK summer fizzled out just as the festival season was in full flow, its good to know that there are some touring bands still intent (pun intended) on playing indoor shows. August is traditionally a quiet month for major bands, as the university venues close their doors for the summer, springing open again as soon as Fresher’s Week arrives.
Swans are now in their 41st year since the experimental rock band was formed in 1982 by singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist, Michael Gira. Eschewing any notion of a stable line-up, the last permanent member, keyboard/vocalist Jarboe was not part of the reformed Swans in 2010, although she did make a contribution to Swans 12th album “The Seer” back in 2012, with some backing vocals.
Surrounding himself with a “revolving cast of contributors”, Gira has recently released his 16th album “The Beggar” on his own Young Gods label, the 10th Swans album on this imprint of Mute Records.
Speaking about the new release, the band’s Michael Gira says:
“After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else. They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy the album.” – Michael Gira
Catch Swans live at Albert Hall, Manchester on 12th Aug. Tickets are still available here but be quick.
