Epic Noise
Swans split up in 1998, they have long been one of those bands you wished you'd been there to see at the time but now wouldn't get the chance too, that is until Michael Gira recently reassembled most of the original members under the familiar moniker and they announced this tour. The sound Swans now make is a much mellowed version of their early sound and has moved on from the music they were making prior to their break up - the new album which they plunder for most of the set at tonight's gig has something of a post-rock edge (amongst other things); a sweeping epic quality along with those thunderous, repetitive riffs and waves of percussion.
The Cardiff venue is, surprisingly, sparsely populated considering Swans notoriety as a live band, many of the audience members appear to be original fans from way back when but there is a mix in the crowd, spanning a huge age range, this may be due to the accessibility of the new album, or just curiosity. This gig forms part of the annual Swn festival taking place in the Capitol over this weekend, with many gigs starting and finishing all over the city at different times and things do pick up just before Swans come on stage.
Twenty minutes before their set begins a slow droning noise becomes audible from the stage and if you're paying attention you see a figure pop out stage left to adjust it every now and again, the noise gets louder and changes as more sounds are added and before long you can't ignore it any more and the crowd starts making their way to the front to be greeted with the start of fantastic new album opener 'No Words/No Thoughts'. As the band members appear they add their noises to the fray and soon the set is in full swing, deafening percussion and guitars give way to moments of gentle twinkling and Gira's low moody vocal delivery.
They cover much of the new record, highlights of the set (apart from that opener) include the tuneful 'Jim' which is brilliantly constructed live and the juicy, almost Nick Cave-esque (at times) 'Eden Prison' but as far as the whole performance goes it seems effortless, the band working smoothly as a unit, barely pausing for breath before launching into the next twenty minute onslaught. The tracks that sound great on record are given an even bigger personality in a live setting and are well received by a rapt audience.