[Photo Courtesy of Phil Puleo]

By Rocco Prioletti, Contributor

Experimental rock outfit Swans have released their latest single “Paradise is Mine.” The nine-minute-long comeback is the first glimpse into their sixteenth studio record The Beggar, following 2019’s leaving meaning. The record is set to release on June 23 from Young God Records; run by lead singer and songwriter Micheal Gira.

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Swans has spanned nearly 30 years of perpetually rotating lineups and an ever-changing and lengthening catalog of genres: the industrial no-wave unease of their debut Filth, to the oddly endearing country twang of The Burning World, to the brooding societal underbelly exhumed throughout Soundtracks for the Blind. Their latest release picks up right where they left off, furthering their winding of repetitive riffs; pushing the boundaries of song structure or lack thereof. 

Gira shared his thoughts upon The Beggar’s announcement, stating that “After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else. They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy the album.”

The Beggar entails 11 tracks, teetering at just over two hours in length. The record covets their longest song to date: “The Beggar Lover (Three),” weighing in at 44 minutes of music. Somehow toppling To Be Kind’s monolithic half an hour expanse of “Bring the Sun / Toussaint L’Ouverture.”  

Nearly all of the material that consists of their upcoming record could be heard on 2022’s limited release fundraiser album entitled, Is There Really A Mind?. Comprising minimalist sketches and demos of songs to soon be realized within the full theatrics of a studio recording. Like lead single “Paradise is Mine,” contrasting the studio release in its bare acoustic stretches of limbed guitars. 

The Beggar is available for pre-order via Young God Records. 

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