Atmospheric and beautiful
Please excuse me indulging in a moment of reflection here: my first introduction to Swans was way back in 1990 when I was an impressionable 16 year old, I discovered in my high school boyfriend's record collection a vinyl copy of Swans album "Greed" and along with Big Black's "Songs About Fucking" the album became one of those age defining records for me, helping to reinforce forever my musical taste, it blew me away at the time with the dark and moody heaviness it contained and stayed with me for a long time.
Hence my interest in this new release, and happily (or perhaps gloomily) it doesn't disappoint. The record opens with 'No Words/No Thoughts' a discordant but tuneful gloom-fest; chimes twinkle at the start before the sludgy guitars and drums along with other sometimes unidentifiable noises come in gradually layering into a louder and heavier wall of noise (some of the sounds come from percussion, piano, vibes, dulcimer, organ, keys and mandolin amongst others). This song feels more layered and more intensely noisy than the Swans I remember from that old record, but this new sound is no less emotional and definitely packs a punch.
Michael Gira's gothy vocals continue on track two but this tune is much less dramatic in its construction, more of a choral feel with hummed backing vocals, it has the core of melody that all Swans tracks have no matter how dark and brooding or noisy they get. 'Jim' has the feel of an old blues tune, a steady beat drives it and a lovely melody holds you. 'My Birth' is more intense, dark in tone and very atmospheric. 'You Fucking People Make Me Sick' is a highlight (one of many); Mandolin, and sweet duel vocals (one of which is Gira's 3 year old daughter) move into a shockingly heady mix of nasty, discordant noise which makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
As a return to the Swans moniker after such a long time this album proves to be a worthy addition to the cannon; beautiful, nasty, dark and epic. An emotional ride.