Swans drop 17th studio album ‘Birthing’ – Out now
Swans (Photo by Josef Puleo)
Swans have released their seventeenth studio album, “Birthing” today 30 May. It is out via Mute / Young God Records on triple vinyl (brown chipboard sleeve), double CD (brown chipboard digi-pack), and digital formats.
Early pressings of the vinyl and CD include a bonus DVD with “Swans Live 2024 (Rope) The Beggar”, a concert film directed by Marco Porsia, plus Christopher Nicholson’s documentary from Michael Gira’s 2022 solo tour, “I Wonder If I’m Singing What You’re Thinking Me To Sing.”
Below is the latest video from the band for the track “The Healers”.
Below is the video for “I Am a Tower”.
Michael Gira: “The material contained in this album was largely developed over the course of a yearlong Swans tour, during 2023 – 2024 (‘The Healers’, ‘I Am a Tower’, ‘Birthing’, ‘Guardian Spirit’, ‘Rope’, and ‘Away’), then recorded and further orchestrated and rearranged in the studio. Two pieces were created and performed in the studio (‘Red Yellow’, ‘The Merge’).
In all cases the material began with me sitting in my office with an acoustic guitar, singing and dreaming about what would become of these skeletal songs. I’m blessed to have such a stellar group of musicians to work with live (listed below), and through improvisation, endless revisions and an intensity of focus in performance (not to mention endurance), over the course of time the music morphed into what you generally hear on this collection.
This album, coupled with the recent live release, Live Rope, constitutes my final foray (as producer / impresario) into the all-consuming sound worlds that have been my obsession for years. We’ll do a final tour in this mode towards the end of 2025, then that’s it.
After that, Swans will continue, so long as I’m able, but in a significantly pared down form. Hints of that direction can be found in a few moments on the current album. In the meantime, my hope is that the music provides a positive and fertile atmosphere in which to dream.”
Gira produced “Birthing” which was recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin with engineer Ingo Krauss and assistant Kiron Gaudi. It was then mixed at Candy Bomber Studio, Berlin by Ingo Krauss. Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose (Berlin) mastered it.
Contributors on “Birthing” include Michael Gira (acoustic guitar, voice), Phil Puleo (drums, hammer dulcimer, flute, melodica, percussion), Kristof Hahn (lap steel, guitars), Dana Schechter (lap steel, bass), Christopher Pravdica (bass, loops, keyboards), Larry Mullins (Mellotron, keyboards, percussion), Norman Westberg (electric guitar), and guest musicians Jennifer Gira, Laura Carbone, Lucy Kruger, Andreas Dormann, Timothy Wyskida, and Little Mikey.
Table of contents
Final Swans tour
North American Tour – September & October 2025
The tour will have a confirmed line-up of: Michael Gira, Kristof Hahn, Dana Schechter, Larry Mullins, Phil Puleo, Christopher Pravdica, and Norman Westberg (with Little Annie & Paul Wallfisch as support).
- 4 Sep – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
- 5 Sep – Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
- 6 Sep – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
- 9 Sep – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
- 10 Sep – Austin, TX – Mohawk Austin
- 12 Sep – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
- 13 Sep – Tucson, AZ – The Rialto Theatre
- 15 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
- 16 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
- 17 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
- 20 Sep – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
- 21 Sep – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
- 23 Sep – Seattle, WA – The Neptune Theatre
- 24 Sep – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
- 27 Sep – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
- 28 Sep – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room Showroom
- 30 Sep – Chicago, IL – Cabaret Metro
- 1 Oct – Detroit, MI – The Magic Bag
- 3 Oct – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
- 4 Oct – Montreal, QC – Théâtre National
- 6 Oct – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
- 7 Oct – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
UK / European Tour – October & November 2025
- 23 Oct – Leipzig (DE) – Haus Leipzig
- 24 Oct – Neunkirchen (DE) – Neue Gebläsehalle
- 26 Oct – Munich (DE) – Technikum
- 28 Oct – Prague (CZ) – Archa+
- 29 Oct – Graz (AT) – Halle Detroit
- 31 Oct – Ljubljana (SI) – Kino Šiška
- 1 Nov – Zagreb (HR) – Boogaloo
- 3 Nov – Ferrara (IT) – Teatro Comunale
- 4 Nov – Milan (IT) – Auditorium di Milano
- 6 Nov – Paris (FR) – Trabendo
- 7 Nov – Leeds (UK) – Project House
- 9 Nov – London (UK) – Electric Brixton
- 10 Nov – London (UK) – Electric Brixton
- 11 Nov – London (UK) – Electric Brixton
- 14 Nov – Leiden (NL) – Nobel
- 15 Nov – Nijmegen (NL) – Doornroosje
- 17 Nov – Copenhagen (DK) – VEGA Store
- 19 Nov – Oslo (NO) – Vulkan Arena
- 20 Nov – Stockholm (SE) – Slaktkyrkan
- 22 Nov – Tallinn (EE) – Paavli Kultuurivabrik
- 24 Nov – Vilnius (LT) – Kablys
- 25 Nov – Warsaw (PL) – Stodoła
- 27 Nov – Berlin (DE) – Festsaal Kreuzberg
- 28 Nov – Berlin (DE) – Festsaal Kreuzberg
About Swans
Swans, an American experimental rock band, was founded in 1982 by Michael Gira in New York City. Emerging from the no wave scene, the band is renowned for its evolving sound, encompassing genres like noise rock, industrial, post-punk, and post-rock. Gira has been the sole constant member, steering the band’s direction throughout its various transformations.
Early Years (1982–1985)
Swans’ initial lineup featured Gira on vocals and bass, Jonathan Kane on drums, and Sue Hanel on guitar. Their debut EP, Swans (1982), showcased a raw, abrasive sound characteristic of the no wave movement. This was followed by their first full-length album, “Filth” (1983), which intensified their sonic assault with grinding guitar noise and pounding rhythms. During this period, the band’s music was marked by themes of power, control, and human suffering.
Evolution and Jarboe’s Influence (1986–1997)
In 1986, vocalist and keyboardist Jarboe joined Swans, marking a shift in their sound. Her influence introduced more melodic and atmospheric elements, evident in albums like “Children of God” (1987), which blended harsh noise with ethereal passages and explored religious themes. The band’s experimentation continued with releases such as “The Burning World” (1989), incorporating folk and world music influences, and “White Light from the Mouth of Infinity” (1991), which delved into more melodic and intricate compositions. Swans disbanded in 1997 after releasing the expansive double album “Soundtracks for the Blind” (1996).
Reformation and Recent Works (2010–Present)
Gira revived Swans in 2010 with a new lineup, excluding Jarboe. This era saw the release of albums like “My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky” (2010), “The Seer” (2012), “To Be Kind” (2014), and “The Glowing Man” (2016). These works are characterized by lengthy compositions and complex soundscapes. In 2017, Gira announced a shift in the band’s structure, opting for a revolving cast of contributors for future projects. This approach led to the creation of “Leaving Meaning” (2019) and “The Beggar” (2023).
Their forthcoming album, “Birthing” is out now.
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