Lorna Irvine's thoughts on Swan's latest studio album.
Wow- what a little bruiser...
The twelfth studio album from Michael Gira's post-punk legends was never going to make for an easy ride, coming as it does on the back of battering live performances and recorded output that leaves most current indie sounding about as vital as skiffle. Bon Iver? Palma Violets? The Crookes? Pah! Swans will trample them all like bugs, one by one.
Gira has never been one to do things by halves, and at over two hours long this is an opus which will test the limits of the casual listener- but then, they wouldn't have it any other way. His growl may be more refined these days, but still the intensity remains. For example, the title track's montage of sound is over half an hour long- a cyclical vortex which takes you to the very brink of chaos, pushes you over the edge of it, then hoists you back, over and over and over. It would be almost unbearable, were it not so extraordinarily compelling- the ebb and flow of the guitar noise underpinned by a howling harmonica.
At times, Gira's voice is akin to Nick Cave's but to compare their music would be to do a great disservice to both artists- although both refuse to compromise on their visions- indeed Swans often sound like everyone and no-one. Such disparate influences: Morricone, folk, Krautrock, plainsong, industrial noise, post-rock, and so forth would not normally gel together- yet The Seer transcends those influences easily while creating new textures.
There is some respite in The Daughter Brings The Water, The Wolf's troubled croon and guest collaborator Karen O sounds remarkably restrained, croaking the world- weary lullabye Song For A Warrior. It is a revelation: lacking the usual histrionics, her voice sounds beautiful beside Gira's.
This is not the only surprise- erstwhile member Jarboe pops up again and Thor Harris' chiming bells are a welcome inclusion, jostling for space with his thunderous percussion. It is a truly unexpected return to formidable form.
Beauty and horror, destruction and re-birth: they are back and this is one of the year's true masterpieces- just don't listen to it with the lights off.
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