SWANS ARE NOT DEAD

 Michael Gira is one of the coolest/charismatic/talented persona in the underground music history. He is the leader of Swans,Angels of Light and also runs a record label called Young God Records...

He was born in 1954 L.A but when he was a teenager , he moved to Europe with his father. He ran away from home when he was 16 and joined some Gypsy Hippies and travelled. It ended when he get arrested in Israel for selling drugs. Then he returned to U.S , he formed his band Swans...

Swans' music could be called No Wave but it is and it was always so obscure. Their shows were dark and loud. I remember reading that Michael Gira ask to a venue manager to turn of A.C , because he believes that  with the heat and sweat you would feel and get into the music. He stated that their shows were "soul uplifting and body destroying"...

   

Swans were active between 1982-1997, but last year Michael Gira decided to reform the band, because he believed the songs that he wrote wasn't fitting for his later band Angels of Light. Swans was a very influential band and you can still hear it in many bands.

 

The result is excellent , their new album  My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky  does not have the legendary female singer Jarboe but there are some original members in this album...

Michael Gira - guitar / voice / (original swans); 
Norman Westberg – guitar (original swans); 
Christoph Hahn – guitar (mid period swans and most angels of light); 
Phil Puleo – drums, percussion, dulcimer etc (final swans tour and most angels of light); 
Chris Pravdica – bass and gadgets (flux information sciences / services/ gunga din);
 Thor Harris - drums, percussion, vibes, dulcimer, curios, keys (angels of light, now also with Shearwater)

Overall it is probably one of their best album. The opening track is so powerful , it gets almost scary. By the time you finish listening the album , you will be so glad that SWANS ARE NOT DEAD!

Wire Magazine choose the third best album of the year, BBC Music has declared it "a majestic return and, let us hope, a harbinger of more to come

To buy the album and check the tour dates go to http://younggodrecords.com/index.asp?...