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Swans return with Birthing, the latest album, developed over the course of a yearlong 2023–2024 tour.
Birthing is released via Mute and Young God Records. The initial pressings of the deluxe vinyl and CD include a bonus DVD featuring Swans Live 2024 (Rope) The Beggar, a concert film by Marco Porsia documenting the band's most recent US tour. The DVD also includes I Wonder If I’m Singing What You’re Thinking Me To Sing, a documentary by Christopher Nicholson following Michael Gira’s 2022 solo tour.
Refined through relentless improvisation and live performance, as well as newly composed studio pieces, Birthing is a testament to Michael Gira’s uncompromising sonic vision. Beginning as skeletal acoustic compositions, the songs were gradually expanded and transformed in the studio with longtime live members and collaborators.
“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.” – Michael Gira / Swans
Produced by Gira, Birthing was recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin, mixed at Candy Bomber Studio by Ingo Krauss, and mastered by Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose.
Tracklist
VINYL TRACKLIST
A1 The Healers
B1 I Am a Tower
C1 Birthing
D1 Red Yellow
D2 Guardian Spirit
E1 The Merge
F1 Rope
F2 Away
CD TRACKLIST
CD1
1 The Healers
2 I Am a Tower
3 Birthing
CD2
1 Red Yellow
2 Guardian Spirit
3 The Merge
4 Rope
5 Away