This convalescing thing does have its upsides. I may end up in The Guinness Book Of World Records for being the first and only person in the world to have listened to the Swans Triple LP from start to finish in one sitting. Twice! Of course post op pharmaceuticals don't hinder this kind of behaviour. The Seer goes for 1 hour and 55 minutes. So it was great to finally get to grips with the record as a whole. Instead of listening to snippets while out walking, on the tram etc. I wasn't even going to attempt a review or whatever this is because I thought I wouldn't be able to do it justice. Anyway fuck me what an epic it is in all senses of the word. It should be listened to as a whole. It makes more sense and really is how it is supposed to be listened to. People sit in a cinema for 2 hours to watch a film. Why can't we do the same with triple LPs. Now I wouldn't be saying any of this if it wasn't any good. Believe me it's up there with their other epics like Children Of God, Soundtracks for the Blind etc. The previous LP was ok but that was just a warm up for the true power and brilliance of this magnificent ensemble's new masterpiece. There is less singing, perhaps his voice isn't what it used to be but it's still pretty darn strong, intimidating and powerful. Gira is also doing new things with his vocals. Swans could be the best reactivated band ever. 30 or so years on they are at some kind of unexpected peak. The instrumental passages which really make up most of the album are incredible, sometimes dark at others beautiful. There is psychedelia, repetition, electronics, noise, menace, prog, No Wave remnants and light but what we most want is that Swans intensity we all know and love. There's plenty of that too. It wouldn't be a Swans record without absurdity, perversity, experiments, hilarity and some going OTT. This is impeccable orchestrated noise of the highest order. My only qualm, and that's impressive for a triple LP, is Karen O(h no), why not Jarboe? I can always skip that track. Jarboe does however feature on many tracks. This is a real band effort and they are in rude form. This is unmistakably the Swans the same yet different.
Like the previous post about Mr Scott Walker I love how Mr Gira is still fearless and uncompromising. He's not getting soft or complacent in his old age. That's what your bores and Bobs are for. Still experimenting and lookin' for intense kicks. Gira's Laurels are in an envelope outside the boundaries reaching new edges.
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| Mick was always fond of a hat even when they weren't cool. Looks like a fun party. |
