Swans

Unveil ‘Oxygen’ – new track taken from forthcoming album ‘To Be Kind’ – out on 12/13 May.

Swans have unveiled a new track from forthcoming album ‘To Be Kind‘, out on 12 May / 13 May on Young God Records (North America).

Listen to Oxygen here:

‘To Be Kind‘ will be released on triple vinyl, double CD, download and 3 disc deluxe Edition (including a live DVD) and the band will return to the UK for a tour following its release. Beginning in Manchester on 22 May, Swans will play London’s Brixton Electric on 27 May and return to Birmingham’s Supersonic festival on 31 May. Full details below.

The album features several special guests: Little Annie, St. Vincent, Mute labelmate Cold Specks and Bill Rieflin, was produced by Michael Gira, and recorded by John Congleton at Sonic Ranch, Texas. Further recordings and mixing were accomplished in Dallas, Texas and the artwork – designed by M Gira – features baby images by Bob Biggs, the artist and founder of Slash magazine / Slash Records. Originally Gira 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.”

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’. 

Swans are Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Christoph Hahn, Phil Puleo, Thor Harris and Christopher Pravdica.

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

17 June – Quebec, Le Cercle

18 June – Montreal, Theatre National

20 June – Toronto, Yonge Ave -Dundas Square Stag—-e- NXNE Festival

21 June – Detroit, St Andrews Hall

22 June – Chicago, Lincoln Hall

24 June – St Louis, The Ready Room

26 June – Dallas, Trees

27 June – Austin, Mohawk Austin

28 June – Houston, Fitzgerald’s Upstairs

30 June – Nashville, Exit / In

1 July – Charlotte, Neighborhood Theatre

2 July – Louisville, The New Vintage

3 July – Pittsburgh, Rex Theater

5 July – Buffalo, Tralf Music Hall

6 July – New Haven, Toad’s Place

Tickets are on sale now, http://www.seetickets.com/go/swans.

Support comes from Jenny Hval on all the May dates.

Free download of A Little God In My Hands here:

 SWANS ONLINE:  

WEBSITE: http://younggodrecords.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/SwansOfficial

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