Those that follow experimental band Swans closely will know that they are in the midst of a fairly large shake-up. The previous iteration of the band has been put to bed, with Michael Gira promising to soldier on with a new cast of musicians. This isn’t totally out of character for the band, who have had many lineup changes over the years and Gira serving as the only original member still in the group.
Today, the band has teased something on their Instagram page, posting a 10 song track list written on a blank piece of paper in Sharpie. Some of the songs mentioned are previously released, particularly “God Damn the Sun” which has a note next to it that reads “(rerecord?)” That song was released in 1989 on their album The Burning World. Also worth noting a song that says “Amnesia” and a note “(New Music)” – interesting because the band released a song called “Amnesia” way back in 1992 on their album, Love of Life. “Annaline” appears to be a song that was previously unreleased until it was included on CD compilation I Am Not This, which promptly sold out and is unavailable now. Other songs appear to be new, such as “Sun Fucker,” but it’s entirely possible they’re older unreleased songs too. At the bottom of the list is a suggestion, “Record in Feb.??”
1. What Is This?
2. Phantom Limb
3. You Will Pay
4. Hanging Man
5. Annaline
6. Prayer Thing (End of Knot Reworked)
7. Sun Fucker
8. Amnesia (New Music)
9. God Damn the Sun
10. Organ Thing
UPDATE (8/20): Swans have posted an updated version of the tracklist on Instagram. The attached note reads, “M.Gira will be performing solo versions of most of these new Swans songs at the following venues soon. His pal Norman Westberg will open the show… Carla Bozulich is also playing in LA…” The note in the image, in addition to expounding and adding to the previous track list, includes the notes “Record March ’19” and asks the questions “With whom?? Where???”
M. Gira solo tour dates:
9/27 – Los Angeles, CA Regent Theatre (Fully Seated)
9/29 – Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre (Partially Seated)
10/4 – Portland, OR The Old Church Concert Hall (Fully Seated)
10/5 – Seattle, WA Columbia City Theater (Partially Seated)
10/25 – Brooklyn, NY Warsaw (Fully Seated)
Updated track list with notes:
1. What Is This? (ZEN SCALPEL LEAVES NO SCAR)
2. Phantom Limb (THE ATOMIZED MIND)
3. You Will Pay (WE DEMAND EXPIATION!)
4. The Hanging Man (SPACE BETWEEN THOUGHTS)
5. Annaline (-BOO HOO LOVE SONG)
6. Leaving Meaning (PRAYER THING STATIC GOSPEL)
7. Sun Fucker (THE POWER OF THE ECSTATIC HERD —- CHILDREN’S CHOIR??)
8. The Last Song – THE END – EMPTIED OUT
9. Cathedrals of Heaven – ALL THINGS BENEATH THE SKY
10. God Damn The Sun (Re-Record W New Arrangement) – NO MOPING!
11. Amnesia (New Music) – JACK NITZSCHE!!
12. Organ Thing (Needs Words) – LEAVE SPACE!!
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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