3LP + Live DVD with Poster Edition Release Date: 30/5/2025 Label: Young God Records
Description
Swans return with Birthing, the latest album developed over the course of a yearlong 2023–2024 tour. Birthing is released via Mute and Young God Records.
The initial pressings of the deluxe vinyl and CD include a bonus DVD featuring Swans Live 2024 (Rope) The Beggar, a concert film by Marco Porsia documenting the band's most recent US tour. The DVD also includes I Wonder If I’m Singing What You’re Thinking Me To Sing, a documentary by Christopher Nicholson following Michael Gira’s 2022 solo tour.
Refined through relentless improvisation and live performance, as well as newly composed studio pieces, Birthing is a testament to Michael Gira’s uncompromising sonic vision. Beginning as skeletal acoustic compositions, the songs were gradually expanded and transformed in the studio with longtime live members and collaborators.
“This album, coupled with the recent live release, Live Rope, constitutes my final foray (as producer / impresario) into the all-consuming sound worlds that have been my obsession for years. We’ll do a final tour in this mode towards the end of 2025, then that’s it. After that, Swans will continue, so long as I’m able, but in a significantly pared down form. Hints of that direction can be found in a few moments on the current album. In the meantime, my hope is that the music provides a positive and fertile atmosphere in which to dream.” – Michael Gira / Swans
Produced by Gira, Birthing was recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin, mixed at Candy Bomber Studio by Ingo Krauss, and mastered by Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose.
LP1-A Swans– The Healers
LP1-B Swans– I Am A Tower
LP2-C Swans– Birthing
LP2-D1 Swans– Red Yellow
LP2-D2 Swans– Guardian Spirit
LP3-E Swans– The Merge
LP3-F1 Swans– Rope
LP3-F2 Swans– Away
Bonus DVD
DVD-1 M. Gira*– Live Solo 2022: I Wonder If I'm Singing What You're Thinking Me To Sing
DVD-2 Swans– Live 2024: (Rope) The Beggar
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