SWANS The Gate

[Inconuucl]

Can we just have jarboe back?

[kbit]

I was surprised that To Be Kind wasn't done with Kevin McMahon/Marcata Recording like MFWGMUARTTS and The Seer were. Hm... anyway I still haven't heard TBK but I'm definitely looking forward to this one too.

Yeah but John Congleton is rad; he's produced a bunch cool stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Congleton

[DarkAxel]

Can we just have jarboe back?

I've NEVER heard anyone say that actually

I never understood how she even got in Swans in the first place

[lordgalvar]

Or why Alternative Tentacles released her solo album. (or that M Gira one either...both were kinda bad).

[D.o.S.]

Can we just have jarboe back?

I've NEVER heard anyone say that actually

I never understood how she even got in Swans in the first place

Because she was romantically involved with Gira. That seems to be the undercurrent, at least:
http://www.self-titledmag.com/2014/08/2 ... rift-game/

And also because her discog is fucking awesome, for the most part.

HOWEVER! While trying to find the MG quote I was looking for I did find one of my favorite Gira quotes re: piracy

The way how I see it is that your work and you make something through tremendous investment and you deserve to be compensated for that work by the people who use it in their lives. The analogy that I’ve drawn in the past is that if someone were a finish carpenter or a cabinet maker or a furniture maker and they spent months and months making a series of a hundred, handmade chairs and they invested in the materials, they have to pay rent and buy the materials to make those chairs and years of learning their fine skills and they put them in a warehouse to be shipped to a few stores or something and someone comes in and says, “Oh, I’ll have those.” And they take them. It’s the same thing. It’s exactly the same thing. It’s—what’s the word I’m looking for—an amoral view of what musicians make, this view that music should be free. Well, it costs money to make music. My friend James Toss, from Wooden Wand, makes the analogy: would someone say, at a Black Flag gig, come out and start stealing their CDs, I don’t think so.

So do you see yourself as a craftsman that makes something rather than something conceptual or just aesthetic?

Well, yeah, it’s physical in the sense of sound waves, organized sound. It is physical, something that I and my cohorts labored extensively on, trying to make the best possible thing. I worked for years in construction. Maybe that’s where I get the ethos from actually having to work hard physically for a very long time and knowing the value of labor. So I’m someone who works in sound.

10/10

[Ugly Nora]

I would be more afraid to steal cds from M. Gira than Henry Rollins. That said, I could kick both their asses if shit went down.

[D.o.S.]

[doommeow]

Just got my shipping note for The Gate

And this

[lordgalvar]

Still waiting for some kind of notification.

I used to really, really dig SWANS. I don't know if my mood, taste, or what has changed, but when I saw them last year (or was it this year?), I was kind of bored. Really excited to sit down and listen to a record of theirs (his?), see what has changed, and see if I get into it. Maybe I just like it more on record being a fidget and a spazz (can't sit or stand and listen without wandering...)? Maybe I've just been in the punk rock realm for a while again. Last time I really listened to them a lot was when AT released that Jarobe and M. Gira record (and I know those are "solo" projects) but those were kind of offputting in my opinon.

Anyway, excited for it to get here!

Thanks for that quote D.o.S.; I totally agree with him.

[DarkAxel]

Well yeah I knw about the romantic involvement, but she just always seemed really shitty for Swans Aside from maybe an odd track here and there?

Idk, it's just sort of like Roger Waters - I see he has some merit, but I just can't get over how unpleasant he is for me. Despite the fact that I really enjoy a lot of the Pink Floyd he wrote. Even Final Cut

[D.o.S.]

I do kind of find it funny that Swans middle period -- what with the bunnies and the Jarboe -- has been totally glossed over in their retelling/reformation.

I used to really, really dig SWANS. I don't know if my mood, taste, or what has changed, but when I saw them last year (or was it this year?), I was kind of bored.

There were bits of the set on their most recent tour where I felt similarly. I think mostly because they weren't loud enough from where I was (right next to the mixing board), and a lot of the new material (especially live) is as much about the air moving as it is anything musical.

[lordgalvar]

You know D.o.S., we were actually pretty far back and it was at Coachella so that might be a large part of it (it was really quiet). They have this one tent where they throw the "other bands" (what my friends call them)...it is where Jello biafra, SWANS, Squarepusher and Toy Dolls play. It is also the quietest tent by far (and they don't let you get close). Good point man

I also think that if I had gone by myself to one of the many dates they had at the Roxy, I would've probably enjoyed it more. I was really pissed I talked myself out of those show...it could've been a build up effect too.

Speaking of which, got my shipping notice. Should be fun...this is the first "new" thing I have gotten in a long time...but can't remember which option I got haha (probably in the e-mail).

[daseb]

I feel like, as much as what they're doing is usually great, they're just releasing too much stuff for my attention span at this point. Multiple long, long records in the last few years, three hour sets every time they play, stuff like that.I come from the land of the 20 minute set so that's a big part of it. I mean it's complaining about too much of a good thing but I just find them overwhelming at this point.

Jarboe's patchy. Inspired a lot of garbage, a collaboration with her is usually a red flag for DO NOT BOTHER with me. But that first world of skin record and her contributions to the great annihilator are incredible. Also that first song on the drainland record is something I put on sometimes when ipod dj'ing between bands just to bum people out.

[Bellyheart]

...fuck I just moved...hope it doesn't go to the wrong place.

[lordgalvar]

In reference to daceb's comments: maybe it is good that I took a 10+ year SWANS break...I have noticed that the release a ton these days (maybe always did, never really followed them as close as I did CV, TG, or Foetus). Going in fresh!