Swans - The Seer
Michael Gira: “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…”
Michael Gira: “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…”
this is an incredible piece of writing
good to see you writing again Tudor. not sure i agree with your comments about Swans foreshadowing GYBE and Mogwai, or completely agree with the score, but i very much enjoyed reading this. wonderful.
An excellent and compelling review
Makes me want to buy the album.
I hear Swans mentioned a lot...
...but that review makes me want to listen to them. Top drawer writing from start to end.
Like the review
"The percussion, provided by Thor Harris, towers like 40-foot pillars in front of a temple from whose dark portal something promises to emerge."
Very descriptive.
May I just add...
Thor! Thor! Thor!
aye
when i reviewed the shearwater album ( http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/shearwater-animal-joy ) i ended up talking more about him than the band. phenomenal percussionist.
hey
Have a listen to songs like "The Sound", "Helpless Child", "How They Suffer" and "Animus" then go re-listen to the first two GYBE albums. The Swans influence/forshadowing is completely undeniable and very easy to spot, especially on Skinny Fists (Storm/Static).
GYBE and Mogwai are great and have both crafted their own sound, but Swans' influence looms hugely over them and the entire post rock genre.
Fucking terrible album.
Zero melody.
Zero skill.
Dreadful.
Open your ears, ffs.
Still snivelling?
Well, that was completely unpredictable coming from you.
sorry for prefering actual music.
GYBE were playing songs from their first album before 'Helpless Child' and 'The Sound' were released
not sure about Mogwai, but they'd have had to have been VERY on the ball for those songs to have 'foreshadowed' the early work of both bands.
Not heard the album yet, but this is really well written.
you sound like an old lady, bet you don't think hip hop is real music either