Album Review: Swans - The Seer

Swans
The Seer
Rating: Woof Daddy

Swans' reputation after 30 years of recording and performing is nearly unimpeachable. From their no wave beginnings, brutal punishing live shows, up to their embracing softer, more ambient textures, they have always pushed the boundaries of what their music is and can be. Leader Michael Gira disbanded the group in the late 90s to form a new band The Angels of Light which focused more on songwriting and embracing a more traditional, alt-country feel. In the late 2000s, Gira announced that he had more to say with Swans and toured along with releasing a new record,My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, which, while not a stunning return to form, was a solid return for the band. As described by Gira, Swans' latest record The Seer "took 30 years to make. It’s the culmination of every previous Swans album, as well as any other music I’ve ever made…" Indeed, The Seer touches on almost everything, drone, no wave skronk, industrial, blues, ambient, black metal, and country, and basically bludgeons the listener over an incredible 2 hour run time, with the title track alone going well over 30 minutes. The Seer is a challenging listen, one that both encapsulates Swans' full body of work while also taking it the next level. This is not made for passive listening; it practically begs you to try and ignore it.

The Seer begins rather ominously with the droning "Lunacy" which pairs groaning guitars, chimes, and militaristic drumming; Gira and a host of backing vocalists whip things up in a monastic fury.



"Mother of the World" finds Swans massaging a repetitive guitar riff into submission, as a thundering bassline and creepy organ drones enter the mix. Gira's vocals moving from nonsense babbling to clearer vocals, as the music threatens to take off into space.



Of course, title track and album centerpiece "The Seer" is a 32 minute behemoth, starting from a rise of what sounds like bagpipes and organs, to a meandering section of twisted guitars and muted percussion, before the gathering storm takes place, Gira's vocals moving from a droning pulse to something more forceful, as the music swirls around him. The track moves through various sections, showing Gira's mastery of arrangement.



Not all of The Seer is devoted to long, droning numbers. Several tracks highlight Gira's songwriting prowess. "The Daughter Brings The Water," is a quiet, acoustic bluesy number, featuring a delicate vocal from Gira.



While Karen O shows up on the wondrously beautiful "Song For A Warrior," her voice timid and fragile.



And even within the longer, more brutal tracks, Gira finds space for beauty. Tremendous 19 minute "A Piece of the Sky" has to be one of Gira's most stunningly sublime songs. Going from a droning early section into a clash of Asian tinted instrumentation that is hypnotic, it morphs into a more traditional track with mournful guitars and keyboards, and a wry vocal turn from Gira.



But of course the more brutish tracks stand out among the others. Closer "The Apostate" is certainly a way to go out with a bang. Over 23 minutes the song is a master class in pacing; gracefully rising from a hushed opening of guitar wails into a furious cloud of roaring guitars and blitzkrieg percussion. The final minutes are an insane cacophony of out of control drums.



The Seer is a difficult album to recommend to a casual music fan because of its sheer length and almost relentless charge, but it is almost a perfect entry point for anyone interested in knowing what the big deal about Swans is. It touches on almost every point in their storied career without seeming retro or out of touch. It shows that nearing age 60 Gira is still at the top of his game, and still making some of the most vital music out there.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.