Swans 12" (Remastered 2015) (SOLD OUT)

Swans

YG47

Signed by M. Gira 

SWANS: 12" EP

re-mastered in 2015

Hi There!
This is the first recorded output of Swans, in it's nascent first stage, circa 1981. As such, it's searching for a sound or a mode of working that we hadn't quite found yet, but if you listen carefully I think you can discern the seeds of things to come. I was still singing from my head, rather than my gut, but that was soon to come. I'm still rather fond of the words on this E.P., though I certainly don't currently ascribe to the world view implied therein. The genesis of this way of writing was in my earlier days in art school, when I'd write out dry but vivid and descriptive scenarios, or instructions, for my performance art undertakings at the time. Impersonal, though impassioned, if that makes any sense. The songs began musically in all cases with a simple bass part I'd worked out (on a small scale bass that Mr. Rhys Chatham loaned me - and showed me how to tune, God Bless Him!) , then were developed with Jonathan Kane on drums, Bob Pezzola on guitar, and Daniel Galli-Duani on heavily treated saxophone.  I have no recollection if this material was ever performed in a live setting. Live, with the exception of Jonathan and myself, the line-up changed immediately and fairly constantly until the recording of Filth in 1983, soon after which Jonathan departed...  In any event, this material was recorded some 34 years ago. Who ARE these people, and why did they do this? That's a question I can't really answer now, except to say it was probably necessary at the time. I hope you enjoy the music! - Michael Gira / Swans / Young God Records 2015