Good morning, Midweek. Spring is officially here. I've opened the windows.  First thing I checked out today was the title track of the upcoming new collaboration between Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA , Scaring The Hoes .  The distinct and character-rich voices of each artist aside, the snare beat sounds like it was mic'd in a crawlspace, scratchy tenor sax scribbles across the track like a kindergartner enthusiastically dragging a marker across paper with a tight fist. Add a simple bass groove and claps.  I love it.  When thinking about minimalism in terms of production, the tinniness and sonic anemia of trap/drill beats and the ubiquity that this sound has had over the last decade or more across a multitude of artists hasn't had consistent appeal for me. That said, I get it: soundtracking a club, the bass drops are effective and the vibe is the draw.  But, "Scaring The Hoes" is minimalism done well. Looking forward to this album. __________ The Laurie Anderson all...

Young Gods Records will be releasing two new Swans reissues on December 4th, White Light from the Mouth of Infinity and Love of Life .  So, to anyone reading this, my 39th birthday is right before Christmas if you were looking for gift ideas.  White Light from the Mouth of Infinity and Love of Life were originally released in '91 and '92 respectively, likely buried beneath a greasy, sweaty wannabe-subculture driven by teen angst, flannel, alt-marketing and MTV.  I know these albums definitely slipped past my radar since I was as immersed in all the alt-mania as everyone else was at the time.  First runs of the albums will be issued as limited edition box sets with CD, vinyl and digital versions to follow once the sets have been bought up.  You can read more about the reissues below.  All info was provided by Howlin' Wuelf Media.  You can also listen to both albums here:   Swans continue their remastered reissues series on Young Go...

Swans Filth Young God Records Originally released: 1983 Reissued: 11.14 *Yeah, she wasn't too happy with me. **Swans might be a tad too much for a six year-old's ears.  That notwithstanding, the new Filth vinyl sounds great. The crushing, pulverizing force that dominates this release sounds immense.  If you purchase the album through Young God Records, your copy will be autographed by Michael Gira .  You can purchase the album here . Here's the track she sampled: Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So, if this year's two-hour tension riddled colossus To Be Kind wasn't enough, Swans are reissuing their 1983 debut release, Filth , on October 28th.  Apparently, this will be the first of many reissues the band will be tackling as they delve into their discography over the coming year.  Filth is available for pre-order per a link which, along with all of the information below, was provided by Howlin' Wuelf Media. Swans re-issue debut album FILTH , on vinyl w original cover art for the 1st time in 24 years Young God Records follows the release of this year's critically acclaimed 2 hour long Swans opus To Be Kind , with the vinyl re-release of their debut album Filth on October 28 on Young God in North America and Mute the preceding day in all other territories. Filth inaugurates an ambitious series of re-issues of Swans' distinguished back-catalogue over the coming year. This is the first authorized vinyl edition of the album in 24 years, and was re-mas...

Here are a couple more 2014 records I've purchased.  Start a conversation by commenting if you're not hip to my take on things.  I'm normally up for a lively debate.  Swans To Be Kind Young God Records/Mute Released: 5.12.14 In 2012, I wrote the following about Swans ' then-new release, The Seer : "Listening to The Seer, it does sound dangerously absolute, its surrealistic intensity, abstruse composition and overt theatricality securing for the band a creative peak, one considerable enough to leave little left for any subsequent releases. How does one carry on when the mountain’s been scaled, when the view’s been absorbed and considered? There seems to be so much more distance left to tackle, but how do you reach the sky?" When NPR featured the band's newest release for its "First Listen" series, I jumped on the opportunity to hear it.  And though I'd sampled a couple tracks from the album before then as they were happily diss...

Swans at the Union Transfer, 10.13.12. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Swans The Seer Young God Records Released: 8.28.12 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Swans We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head Young God Records Released: 5.8.12 (Proper release; Limited handmade edition released 2.2.12) Severity.  Self-indulgence.  Instinctual art.  Primitive and emotional clarity manifest in perpetual, compositional, fascinating ruts.  For an audience.  All for an audience. The jogging clangor, a shower of bells and piano notes, percussive ringing tapped in rapid succession...  It's almost as if Michael Gira , head of the No Wave, Industrial legends-turned-high art collective Swans , sought to weed out the non-believers.  The frequency heightens, the music turning to screeching shrieks which then settles a tad just before "No Words/No Thoughts" is beaten into the foreheads of every man and woman in attendance.  Track 1 is over 23 minutes long, the first 13 minutes an introduction to the show as described above.  The applause seem polite, as if the crowd had been shocked into clapping. ...

I know I've been jocking Swans hard lately, but a release date and details regarding their upcoming new album, The Seer, have surfaced.  Legacy Swan Jarboe will appear, as will Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs .  The live DVD that I spotlighted over the weekend will be available at concerts only.  So, unless some Philadelphia area shows develop, I guess I'm shit out of luck. All info comes courtesy of Howlin' Wuelf Media.   SWANS - The Seer (YG45) 2xDigipack CD, 3xLP, Digital (This album is also available as a special edition that includes a Swans Live DVD (at http://younggodrecords.com and live concerts only; view a trailer here: https://vimeo.com/42875372 ) RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012 Track Listing: 1.) Lunacy 2.) Mother of the World 3.) The Wolf 4.) The Seer 5.) The Seer Returns 6.) 93 Ave. B Blues 7.) The Daughter Brings the Water 8.) Song for a Warrior 9.) Avatar 10.) A Piece of the Sky 11.) The Apostate ...Total Running Time: approx. 2 hrs.   ...

This is a trailer for a live DVD that will be sold alongside special edition copies of Swans ' upcoming new release, The Seer .  My guess?  This is the visual version of their still-new live album, We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Bed .  Still pretty awesome, though, if you've heard that live LP.  A review will be available soon.  In the meantime, check out the trailer: Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I haven't heard I Predict A Graceful Expulsion , the newly released new album from Cold Specks .  However, I was very impressed with a version of Swans ' "Reeling The Liars In" she'd recorded for a Record Store Day exclusive, Dancing Coins EP.  Perfect voice for this kind of song, just a haunting and world-weary tone.  Excellent cover; please give it a listen. Via New Music United . This is a video for her single, "Blank Maps." Links were provided by Mute Records. NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NEW YORK, MONTREAL, TORONTO AND LOS ANGELES NEW VIDEO FOR “WINTER SOLSTICE” FROM THE HOXTON HALL SERIES  KEXP’S #1 MOST PLAYED SONG OF THE WEEK IS "BLANK MAPS" Debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion out May 22nd “ Haunting doom-laden soul” -Vogue “When she begins singing, you understand the fuss…” -Pitchfork "I can tell you without a doubt that Al Spx is going to be a superstar before year’s end." -YVYNYL “...

In January, Young God Records put out a handmade version of We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head , which is a live double-LP from Swans .  Despite its varying degrees of expense, up to $600 if I remember correctly, all 1,000 copies sold out within 24 hours .  For those of us, (as I myself had neither the money nor the knowledge that sale had commenced), that missed out, a general release of the album is planned for May 1st. All info has been provided by Howlin' Wuelf Media. The band's 2010 release, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky , was reviewed for No Ripcord and my pick for best album of the year . SWANS  -  We Rose From your Bed With The Sun In Our Head (2XDigipackCD) Release Date: May 1, 2012 Available in limited quantities in stores and primarily through http://www.younggodrecords.com and live Swans concerts. TRACK LISTING: disc one: 1. intro/no words no thoughts 2. jim 3. beautiful child 4. the apostate 5. yr property 6. s...

Editor's note: I'd posted this announcement about Swans' We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head on Tuesday, but was told through their PR contact to keep a lid on this until Friday, February 3rd.  Jumping the gun, this series of live albums actually went on sale yesterday and are now completely sold out .  So, good luck on E-Bay. Following up their amazing 2010 release, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky , Swans are releasing a series of handmade live albums, We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head .  If you go to Michael Gira 's Young God Records site, you will find a list of purchase options with sets ranging from $30 to $600.  Yeah, not in my price range, either, but it's all genuine and limited editino artwork from Gira himself.  As collectors know, there is a price to owning something unique.  Plus, your money goes into the Swans' upcoming studio album, The Seer .  Considering the brilliance of its predecessor, any mon...