leaving meaning.

by Swans

Overview

Between 2010 and 2017, Michael Gira led a mostly stable lineup of Swans who toured and recorded constantly, producing some of the most ambitious work of his monumental career. Surprisingly enough, this era of the group ended up being highly successful, with a Top 40-charting album and near-universal acclaim. Considering how intense and physically demanding the group's music had become, particularly during the years surrounding The Seer and To Be Kind, it was perhaps inevitable that this era of Swans would come to an end, and Gira dissolved the lineup in 2017. From then on, Swans has consisted of a revolving cast of musicians, including previous contributors to Swans and Angels of Light as well as several other guests, friends, and tourmates. Leaving meaning. features an impressive guest list, including composer/master sound designer Ben Frost, lauded Australian improv trio the Necks, Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost of Balkan-psych fusionists A Hawk and a Hacksaw, and many others. The guest contributions that stand out the most are Anna and Maria von Hausswolff's swooping, ecstatic backing vocals during the ritualistic "Sunfucker" and Baby Dee's ethereal dream narrative during the truly entrancing "The Nub." Other highlights include the flow-of-thoughts march of "Some New Things" and the hopeful, existentialist procession "What Is This?" In sharp contrast to the previous few Swans albums, the pieces here are generally calm and patient, never building up into an earth-shaking crescendo, and never exceeding 12 minutes this time around. The group's music sounds as hypnotic as ever, and the arrangements generally sound fantastic. ~ Paul Simpson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/2019
Label:	Young God
UPC:	0658457006313
Rank:	33308

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Swans   Primary Artist
Paul Wallfisch   Piano
Baby Dee   Vocals
Tony Buck   Drums,Percussion
Thor Harris   Bells,Trumpet,Clarinet,Percussion,Guitar Effects,Electronic Vibes
Christopher Pravdica   Bass
Jeremy Barnes   Hi Hat,Santur,Accordion,Cajun Fiddle
Chris Abrahams   Organ,Piano
Heather Trost   Viola,Violin,Stroviola,Cajun Fiddle
Michael Gira   Guitar,Vocals
Norman Westberg   Guitar
Larry Mullins   Drums,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Electronic Vibes,Vocals (Background)
Lloyd Swanton   Double Bass
Dana Schechter   Bass
Ben Frost   Guitar,Synthesizer
Anna von Hausswolff   Vocals (Background)
Phil Puleo   Hammer Dulcimer
Maria von Hausswolff   Vocals (Background)
Yoyo Roehm   Piano,Keyboards,Double Bass,Synthesizer,Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Cassis Staudt   Accordion,Harmonium
Marie-Claire Schlameus   Vocals (Background)
Jennifer Gira   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kristof Hahn   Vocals (Background)
Fay Christen   Vocals (Background)
Ida Albertie Michels   Vocals (Background)
Mika Bajinski   Vocals (Background)
Tatiana Hahn   Compere

Technical Credits

Swans   Laughs
A Hawk and a Hacksaw   Assistant Engineer
Thor Harris   Sounds
Christopher Pravdica   Sounds,Composer
Jeremy Barnes   Engineer
Heather Trost   Engineer
Michael Gira   Artwork,Composer,Producer
Norman Westberg   Composer
Doug Henderson   Mastering
Dana Schechter   Sounds
Jason LaFarge   Engineer
Ingo Krauss   Mixing,Track Engineer
Peter Wright   Management,Administration
Ben Frost   Engineer,Sound Manipulation
Paul A. Taylor   Execution
Phil Puleo   Execution
Saoirse Daniel Gira   Laughs
Francesco Fabris   Assistant Engineer
Kristof Hahn   Composer
Sander Stuer   Assistant Engineer