Is There Really A Mind? (Handmade CD) - (New Album Fundraiser & Pre-Order) - SOLD OUT

SWANS

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Swans: Is There Really A Mind?

Is There Really A Mind? Starts shipping early Feb 2022.
Recording of the new album starts April 2022.
Preorders for the new album ship separately when released in 2023.

Handmade Limited Edition CD Fundraiser with more options

Signed by M.Gira and numbered (1 – 2500)

Scroll Down for Purchase/Support Options

PLEASE FIND THE LETTER AND COMMENTS AS WELL AS VIDEOS AND PHOTOS OF THE PROJECT AND ITEMS AFTER PURCHASE OPTIONS BELOW.
YOUR SUPPORT WILL MAKE THE NEXT SWANS ALBUM POSSIBLE AND THE BEST IT CAN BE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND BELIEF IN THE MUSIC AND ITS POTENTIAL!

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN GET (see various images below):

The CD: MG acoustic versions of songs for the new album, in handmade package with woodblock print, hand printed by Nicole Boitos, based on a design by M.Gira. Signed, doodled upon, and numbered. Comes with extensive lyric sheet and a separate sheet of an MG self portrait; A fine art screen print poster, black red and gold, image drawn by M.Gira; A dark grey t-shirt, printed with white and black image of the Is There Really a Mind? icon; Executive Producer option; Advance Purchase of upcoming album in whatever format you choose; Access to rehearsal / recording video diary filmed daily by MG; A limited edition single sided 12" of an original piece of music by Swans (approximate length of this piece will be 18 minutes) where your name and thanks to you will be vocalized during the song. Thanks to you by name will also be included in the album artwork, as well as etched into the blank B side of the vinyl itself; A vinyl test pressing of the new double album with one of a kind hand drawn artwork by M.Gira on a white sleeve.

Option 1 - $40 : (SOLD OUT) "Is There Really A Mind?" CD of MG acoustic versions of songs for new album, in handmade package with woodblock print, hand printed by Nicole Boitos, based on a design by M.Gira. Signed, doodled upon, and numbered. Comes with extensive lyric sheet and a separate sheet of MG self portrait

Option 2 - $55: (SOLD OUT) Option 1 + a CD copy of the upcoming Swans album upon its release in 2023.

Option 3 - $65: (SOLD OUT) Option 1 + a LP copy of the upcoming Swans album upon its release in 2023.

Option 4 - $100: (SOLD OUT) Option 1 + receive an "Executive Producer” credit in the upcoming Swans studio album + your choice of an CD or LP copy of the upcoming Swans studio album upon its release in 2023.

Option 5 - $150: (SOLD OUT) Everything in Option 4 + A dark grey t-shirt, printed with white and black image of the Is There Really A Mind? icon. Unavailable anywhere else. (You will be contacted after you place your order regarding the size of shirt you would like)

Option 6 - $200: (SOLD OUT) Everything in Option 5 + A fine art screen print poster, black red and gold, image drawn by M.Gira printed by Visual Mechanics. (see image below). It is 24" x 18" and it is screen printed on thick, archival paper. Each poster is signed by M.Gira and dedicated by name to you. Limited to 200 numbered copies unavailable anywhere else.

Option 7 - $250: (SOLD OUT) Everything in Option 6 + access to rehearsal / recording video diary. Acting as a diary of the rehearsal and recording process, M. Gira will record on his phone daily short videos of each day’s proceedings, showing the interactions with the musicians and the progression of the arrangement and performance of the songs. Each video will be approximately 1 to 2 minutes in length and will be made available exclusively to you as they occur. The initial rehearsal and recording process is scheduled currently to take place over a six-week period. There will also be additional overdub and vocal sessions and these will also be documented. Taken as a whole, this will provide you with an extensive trove of intimate background material for the album, providing a unique insight into the genesis of the songs and their evolution into a final musical statement.

Option 8a - $500: (SOLD OUT) Everything in Option 7 + CD and Vinyl copy of the new album upon its release in 2023. + A limited edition single sided 12" of original music by Swans where your name and thanks to you will be included in the song, narrated/sung by Gira, as well as on the 12" artwork and also etched into the blank B side of the vinyl itself. This piece of music will be unique to the 80 copies and will never be rereleased or reproduced in any other format ever. It will be one long piece of music (approximately 18 minutes in length) that will develop and build over time. The 80 people that choose this option will be the only people to possess this piece of music. (see mock up photos below) (limited to 80 copies).

Option 8b - $500: (SOLD OUT) Everything in Option 7 + CD and Vinyl copy of the new album upon its release in 2023. + a vinyl test pressing of the new album where each cover is individually drawn by Michael Gira. He will sign the back of each cover, number it, and dedicate it to you. (limited to 50 copies)

Thanks for your support!

If you wish to donate separately from the above purchase options, please do so by clicking the Paypal button below. All donations, large or small, are sincerely appreciated! Again, any donations made by clicking the Paypal button below have no connection to your purchase (via the shopping cart) of any of the options above. Thanks again!

SWANS · Is There A Really A Mind?

Hello There!

The songs for the new album were written over the last year or so in the midst of the seemingly endless pandemic, in which, at the time of this writing, we still somehow find ourselves. We had planned an extensive tour for the last album, Leaving Meaning, but it was cancelled, and then rescheduled again several times before we finally and abjectly conceded defeat and decided to wait it out. After a period of deep and dulled depression stemming primarily from the inability to move forward, I finally decided to abandon plans for that tour entirely and to instead write new songs for a new album. The result is the 10 songs now available here. As is usual in the process, these are simple versions of the songs performed at home with acoustic guitar and my voice. Though the performances here stand on their own these recordings will also act as a template for the coming work with other musicians. At my current station in the life cycle I’m increasingly aware that this (or any) effort might be my last. I believe these songs contain something of that sense of finality and the urgency of countering it… My gratitude for your support in funding the recordings and my outsized appetite for sound knows no bounds. At certain times the urge to just give up has been quite seductive, but I’m reminded that there’s a core group of people that care about the work and receive meaning from it, and that knowledge helps to propel me forward. Thank you! – Michael Gira / Swans / Young God Records

The core musicians slated to perform and act as the band Swans in these recordings are listed below (numerous other people will be enlisted along the way as well). As usual, their sensibility and talent will greatly help in ushering the songs into a fully realized form. My hope is that result will surprise and delight us all.

Kristof Hahn – Kristof will play electric guitar, lap steel and acoustic guitar.
Larry Mullins – Larry will play drums, orchestral percussion and keyboards
Phil Puleo – Phil will play drums, hammer dulcimer and other instruments
Dana Schechter – Dana will play bass guitar, lap steel guitar, keyboards and other instruments.
Christopher Pravdica – Christopher will play bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards and electronic gizmos.
Ben Frost – Ben will play synthesizer, electric guitar, and generate sounds from various sources.
Michael Gira – Michael will play acoustic and electric guitar and sing and will produce the recordings.

CD photos

1. Original cover concept sent to Nicole by M. Gira.