Swans

New Swans album The Beggar now available.Here's what Michael Gira has to say about it:

“After numerous pandemic-induced cancellationsof tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparentbottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientationthat came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it wastime to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else.They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these couldbe my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to workwith my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment inThe Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’mfeeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy thealbum!” – Michael Gira

SWANS have announced details of their sixteenthstudio album, The Beggar, due for release on Mute / Young God Records (NAmerica) on 23 June 2023. In addition, Swans have announced further dates for atour across the UK, Europe and North America – full details below. The Beggarwill be released on double vinyl in a brown chipboard sleeve with a downloadcard for accessing an additional 44 minutes of music (also included on thealbum's CD version), as a double CD in a brown chipboard digi-pack, as well asdigitally. 

Listen to the first track from the album,‘Paradise is Mine:https://youtu.be/HgtGHp2kfPQ

The Beggar was recorded and mixed at CandyBomber Studio, Berlin, engineered by Ingo Krauss and mastered by Doug Hendersonat Micro-Moose, Berlin. The album was written and produced by Michael Gira andfeatures contributions from recent and former Swans, members of Angels ofLight, as well as Guest Swan Ben Frost. 

Primary contributors to The Beggar:

Michael Gira – Vocals, words, acoustic guitar,production. Gira started Swans in NYC in 1982 and has been the primarysongwriter, singer and producer throughout the years. During the Swans hiatus(1999 – 2010), he released several albums by and toured with a group calledAngels of Light. Gira recently published a book of his short stories, journals,and words for music, called The Knot. He lives in New Mexico.

Kristof Hahn – Lap steel, various guitars,vocals. Kristof first joined Swans in 1989 and was a principal contributor toAngels of Light, and a core Swans member 2010 – 2017. Kristof’s other musicalventures have included the Rock ‘n’ Roll Noir band Les Hommes Sauvages and KoolKings (with Alex Chilton). When not making music Kristof translates books. Helives in Berlin, Germany.

Larry Mullins - Drums, vibes, orchestralpercussion, Mellotron, various keyboards, backing vocals. Larry is a trainedsymphonic percussionist. He played through the ‘90s with Iggy Pop and laterwith The Stooges. He played with Swans in the late ‘90s and was a maincontributor to Angels of Light. His current main job is playing drums with TheBad Seeds. Larry lives in Berlin, Germany. 

Dana Schechter – Bass guitar, lap steel,keyboards, vocals, piano. Dana played bass in and was a core member of Angelsof Light. She subsequently released music and toured as Bee and Flower. Hercurrent band is the power-duo, Insect Ark. Dana is an animator and designer inthe film industry and currently lives in Berlin, Germany.

Christopher Pravdica - Bass guitar, sounds,keyboards, vocals. Chris played bass as a core Swans member in 2010 – 2017.Chris has played with the bands, The Gunga Din, Flux Information Sciences, XiuXiu, Yonatan Gat’s Medicine Singers and has a project of his own called We Owe.Chris is a sound designer and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Phil Puleo – Drums, percussion, vocals, piano,exotic wind instruments. Phil played drums with Swans in the late ‘90s and wasa core member in Swans 2010 – 2017 and contributed to Angels of Light. Phil’searly NYC musical venture was Cop Shoot Cop and has since played with HumanImpact, among others. Phil is an extremely talented illustrator and lives inChicago, IL.  

Ben Frost - Guitar, synthesizers, soundmanipulations. In his own work, Ben’s adventurous sound-craftings are sometimesharrowing and sometimes delicate and quite musical. His numerous albums and hispowerful live shows have afforded him much recognition. He is also anaccomplished composer and arranger of music for film and television. Ben livesin Reykjavik, Iceland. 

Backing vocals are provided by Jennifer Gira,Lucy Kruger and Laura Carbone.

The Beggar tracklisting

1. The Parasite

2. Paradise is Mine

3. Los Angeles: City of Death

4. Michael is Done

5. Unforming

6. The Beggar

7. No More of This

8. Ebbing

9. Why Can't I Have What I Want Any Time That IWant?

10. The Beggar Lover (Three)

11. The Memorious

The Beggar: https://younggodrecords.com/products/the-beggar

And be sure to check out the rest of younggodrecords.com for recentrestocks of Soundtracks for the Blind, Public Castration is a Good Idea, Anglesof Light “Sing Other People" and We Are Him, all shipping now.