Swans

Reveal first track “A Little God In My Hands” (free download available) from new album “To Be Kind” – out 12 May.

Swans have unveiled the first track from their new album: A Little God In My Hands is available now as a free download:

A Little God In My Hands is the first track to be taken from Swans‘ forthcoming album ‘To Be Kind‘ released on Mute on 12 May / 13 May on Young God Records (North America).

The images for ‘To Be Kind‘ were supplied by artist and founder of Slash magazine / records Bob Biggs (with package design by M. Gira) were first seen by Gira at a friend’s house, “I noticed an unfathomable image on the wall. It was a pastel of one of the baby images we now have decided to use as the art for the new Swans album. It’s an utterly banal image, isn’t it? But the thing is, it stuck with me, all these years… I look at Bob’s baby images as something like the Mona Lisa – utterly inscrutable, but ACHING to reach up to the surface. Or like one of Jasper Johns’ flag paintings – I just can’t figure them out, and I’m not supposed to do so, but they keep calling me back.” Originally he asked Biggs if he could use the artwork back in 1981. Biggs said no, but, explains Gira: “those images have remained in the back of my head since then, always nagging. I’m delighted that these images, finally, with Bob’s consent, can now act as innocent, but implacable sentinels for the music of Swans, after all these years.”

The album features several special guests: Little Annie, St. Vincent, Mute labelmate Cold Specks and Bill Rieflin, the album was produced by Michael Gira, and recorded by John Congleton at Sonic Ranch, Texas. Further recordings and mixing were accomplished in Dallas, Texas.

‘To Be Kind‘ will be released on triple vinyl, double CD, download and 3 disc deluxe Edition (including a live DVD).

Swans, led by Michael Gira, formed in 1982 and, after disbanding in 1997, returned with the critically acclaimed albums ‘My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky’ (2010) and 2012’s ‘The Seer’. 2014’s new album ‘To Be Kind’ was part funded through sales of the double live CD ‘Not Here/Not Now’ via the band’s own site, here.  

The UK dates begin in Manchester on 22 May and include London’s Brixton Electric on 27 May plus a return to Birmingham’s Supersonic festival. Full details below.

Swans are Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Christoph Hahn, Phil Puleo, Thor Harris and Christopher Pravdica and these are the first UK dates since last year’s Mouth to Mouth festival, curated by Gira and the Green Man festival.

Swans infamous and powerful live show was described by Guardian as “a magnificent achievement”, by Clash as “perfectly orchestrated carnage” and by The Quietus as “a revelation” and it was on this recent 2012/2013 tour, Gira explains, that “a good portion of the material for this album was developed live”.

SWANS US / UK TOUR

14 May – Washington DC, Black Cat Mainstage

15 May – Philadelphia PA, Union Transfer

17 May – Boston MA, Royale Nightclub

18 May – New York NY, Bowery Ballroom

19 May – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg

22 May – Manchester UK, Academy 2

23 May – Newcastle UK, Hoults Yard

24 May – Glasgow UK, The Arches

25 May – Aberdeen UK, The Lemon Tree

27 May – London UK, Brixton Electric

28 May – Bristol UK, Trinity Community Arts

29 May – Reading UK, Sub89

31 May – Birmingham UK, Supersonic Festival – Custard Factory

1 June – Leeds UK, Cockpit

2 June – Brighton UK, Concorde 2

Tickets are on sale now, http://www.seetickets.com/go/swans. Support comes from Jenny Hval on all the May dates.

Michael Gira’s solo acoustic tour continues through Europe, click here for details.

MICHAEL GIRA SOLO EUROPEAN TOUR

24 March – Odessa, UA – Bernardazzi Wine Club

26 March – Bucharest, RO – Control Club

27 March – Bologna, IT – Locomotiv

28 March – Milan, IT – Bloom

29 March – Berlin, DE – Kantine, Berghain

Website: http://younggodrecords.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SwansOfficial

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialSwans