Swans "Birthing" Review
“Birthing” by Swans is simply put, my album of the year.
A graceful bow from one of the greatest bands of the 20th and 21st century, and what a page turning finale in this chapter of Swans. Formed in 1981 from the ashes of frontman and only consistent member of the group Michael Gira’s “Circus Mort”, the band has been active and inactive for more than 4 decades, originally ending in 1997 with the seminal masterpieces of both “Soundtracks of the Blind” and subsequent live album “Swans is Dead” and reforming after the collapse of Gira’s side project “Angels of Light”.
Coming back into formation, they harkoned on a new type of Post-Rock, not one of the angular “Glenn Branca”, the subliminality of “The Durutti Column” or not even one of a more modern act like “Slint” with an angsty teenage moodiness. Gira in his 60s and now in his 70s focused on expansive droning worlds of sound that envelope you completely, culminating in the legendary trilogy of “The Seer”, “To Be Kind” and “The Glowing Man”, all three modern day masterpieces which have nothing but critical acclaim to them (The Seer being my personal favorite of the three). After this period of the band came to an end, with “Leaving Meaning” and “The Beggar” they went into a quieter more Neofolkish sound harkening back to “The Burning World”, “White Light from the Mouth of Infinity” and “Love of Life”.
However in 2024, the atmosphere shifted as proven on the absolutely wonderful live record “Live Rope”, which sees them going back to these loud, atmospheric sounds which envelop you, and focusing far less on traditional structure. “Live Rope” serves as both a documentary of the sound on “Leaving Meaning” which never got a tour due to the Covid-19 lockdown, an expansion on “The Beggar” and a look into the present which leaves us at “Birthing”. I remember fondly when I first heard the single, it was senior skip day, I decided to visit downtown Chamblin while my friends went on an ill fated beach trip and I put on “I am a Tower” and I was hooked, it became an instant favorite for me.
Order Swans "Birthing" 3xLP here.
The spoken word chanting that felt like the summoning of some bygone rituals, the harsh, droning passages and the transition to an even better version of “Heroes” with amazing abstract wordplay and a song as described by Gira himself, inspired by “inspired by an unfortunate vision I had of Donald Trump in a sexual three way with Roy Cohn and Richard Nixon”. I pre-ordered and received the album on vinyl (and you can order it as well on this very site), the classic cardboard packaging in tow and it was a fantastic musical experience. The album starts off with another epic “The Healers”, a lush droning opener with amazing bass work, a song I interpret as spiritual cleansing, Gira begging to be washed away for his sins by a deity that just builds and builds into a mighty cacophony. I remember reading in a youtube comment about how the core idea of Swans is an acknowledgement of the transcendental, but still sticking with the material world, a bit of an inverse on George Harrison’s outlook, but if I had to choose between Swans and The Beatles, I would choose Swans. After this is “I am a Tower” and the first record ends.
The 2nd LP starts with the title track “Birthing” with these shoegazy rhythms that evolve and form into these pleasant drones. People when they associate drone music, think of something harsh such as Lou Reed’s masterpiece “Metal Machine Music”, but I always find something pleasant in the rhythms of it all, and yet even by my own twisted standards of pleasant drones, its still such a delight. Flipping over the 2nd LP leads to not just one song per side, but finally (and only) two separate songs. If there is a “weak track” (there isn't in my opinion), I suspect most people would say “Red Yellow” with its simple chorus and oppressive atmosphere. It reminds me a bit of an industrial Dark Ambient song, something you would find off of Sunn-O’s “Black One” or off of my favorite electronic album, Christoph De Babalon’s “If you're into it, im out of it”. An amazing groove and ambiance, more proof every track on this album is amazing.
Following this is the 2nd LP’s closer, “Guardian Spirit” which returns to such beautiful atmospheres contrasted by some of the most body horror based lyrics. It reminds me of the movie “Tetsuo the Iron Man” in the style of Akira Kurosawa’s “Dreams”. An extremely interesting song, but unfortunately has to open up for one of the best songs of all time in Swan’s discography. “The Merge” is my favorite track off of this album, the Faustian sound collage elements, that oppressive drumming, this confused and shaken atmosphere. What an intro to the third and final part of the album. It's very much a piece of Krautrock and I so wish that Swans followed this instead of as promised, going into a softer sound. The counting in German, the completely structured chaos, it's absolutely fantastic and my song of the year. Don’t read me talking about this, listen to it for yourself. Finally, the album ends with another strong contender for best song on the album “(Rope) Away” with the “Away” part looking like the future of the band, and if it is, I'm not complaining. Absolutely beautiful and haunted lyricism over this pastoral ambience, built up over the course of twenty minutes, by these enchanted drones. It feels like the ending of Disney's Fantasia.
With that, my album of the year comes to a close alongside this period of Swans. This is an album mirrored and crafted to perfection. An album that takes in the sound of the trilogy and dilutes it into a perfect concoction to the point the trilogy should be a quadrilogy. Gira is in his seventies and I hope he is in wonderful health and continues making music, but if he is to retire, what a way to bow out.
Much love to Swans - JRM4039
Order Swans "Birthing" 3xLP here.