[dropcap style=”font-size:100px; color:#992211;”]M[/dropcap]oney where the mouth is, etc.
Rather than whinge about the parlous conservatism of the music industry and its ever more wheedling approach to what is, essentially, entertainment’s 1%, Swans have chosen to eschew the world of A&R men and wardrobe budgets. Instead, the future for the band’s outsider noise and insider musical elitism rests in YOUR hands.
A NOTE FROM MICHAEL GIRA / SWANS:
We are in the process and making and assembling an edition of 2500 handmade live 2xCD packages and we are accepting orders now at younggodrecords.com. This is part of a tiered system whereby our dedicated listeners can voice their support for the upcoming new Swans album by choosing one or all of several options presented in order to aid us in our journey towards discovering and subsequently nourishing ourselves (and those who might care to travel with us) within a fresh new constellation of sound. Here below is what I’ve written in a newsletter that has been sent to our friends and supporters:
“…Hello There, Michael Gira of Swans here. I thought that, since you signed up to our newsletter, you might be interested to know that the 2xCD live SWANS handmade fundraiser event/portal of support for our (in)glorious efforts is now up at this link http://younggodrecords.com/
The woodblock print is by Nicole Boitos and I draw all over each one and sign it as well. Each one is unique. They’re numbered 1 – 2500 and won’t be available elsewhere… The upcoming album (as yet untitled) will be the last with this core group (comprised of my beautiful friends Norman, Christoph, Thor, Phil, Christopher and myself) and the subsequent (marathon) tour in 2016 will be our last together. 
As such, I am determined to make this album the most fully realized, cataclysmic, subtle and nuanced, heartfelt and inspirational, truthful and luminous recording that we have yet undertaken. As always, your valued (and quite necessary) support in this perhaps quixotic endeavor is sincerely appreciated. I love you! I thank you!…“
The rapport this group has developed over the last 5 plus years is a gift for which I will remain forever grateful. In live performance it has sometimes lead us to unleash a sound that is not only greater than us but seems to swallow us into its own immanent consciousness and will. It feels great! Oftentimes I’ve spoken to people in the audience after a show and they’ve expressed similar notions.
My sentiment at these moments is that I’m delighted to have been of service, but can’t really take responsibility for it, since it’s beyond us too. So, following the final 2016 touring cycle with the wonderful cadre of talented individuals mentioned above, I will continue to record and perform (though perhaps less frequently) using the name Swans, on a project-by-project basis. Acutely aware that the psychic connection with which we’ve been blessed is irreplaceable, I will instead pursue the ever-elusive pathway alluded to above through other means. You can read more about this and other ephemera at this link.
– Michael Gira / Swans / younggodrecords.com
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. – Aristotle
