Last year, Michael Gira of Swans announced that he was putting out an acoustic album called Is There Really a Mind? which was a fundraiser for rerecording the material with the full Swans band. True to his word, The Beggar is coming out this year.
A lyric video for the second track on the record, “Paradise is Mine,” is on YouTube:
This track is a good representative of the album as a whole. The Beggar continues in the direction Swans took upon reforming in 2010. Swans fans should note that most of the musicians appearing on the album are veterans of Swans or Gira’s previous band Angels Of Light.
There are moody, hypnotic, creepy songs on the record, but there’s also a few tracks, to my ears, containing moments that don’t quite reach those heights and take away from the songs somewhat. On the other hand, there’s an ambitious, 40+ minute song on disc 2 that goes to a wide range of different places. The album ends on a strong note with “The Memorious.”
The Beggar is up for preorder now and coming out on June 23, 2023 on 2x CD and 2x LP with various tasty extras from Young God and digital from Mute.
Preorder note: If Swans fans participated in some versions of the Is There Really a Mind? preorder, they’re covered and will receive the new record. Check the Young God link for details.
Swans are hitting the road to promote the new record:
20 May – Leipzig DE, UT Connewitz – SOLD OUT
21 May – Poznan PL, CK Zamek – SOLD OUT
23 May – Katowice PL, Kino Teatr Rialto – SOLD OUT
25 May – Zilina SK, New Synagogue
26 May – Ljubljana SL, Kino Siska
27 May – Innsbruck, AT, Heart of Noise Festival, Treibhaus
29 May – Bologna IT, Teatro Duse
31 May – Lyon FR, Transbordeur
2 June – Barcelona ES, Primavera Sound Festival
4 June – Lisbon PT, Culturgest – SOLD OUT
5 June – Lisbon PT, Culturgest
6 June – Faro PT, Teatro Das Figuras
9 June – Madrid ES, Primavera Sound Festival
11 June – Athens GR, Vraxon Theatre
13 June – Thessaloniki GR, Moni Lazariston
15 June – Antwerp BE, Bourlaschouwburg
16 June – Utrecht NL, Hertz Theatre – SOLD OUT
11 Aug – Brighton UK, St George’s
12 Aug – Manchester UK, Albert Hall
15 Aug – Newcastle UK, Boiler Shop
16 Aug – Glasgow UK, St Luke’s
18 Aug – Bristol UK, Arc Tangent Festival
19 Aug – Leeds UK, Belgrave Music Hall
21 Aug – Dublin IE, The Academy
23 Aug – Norwich UK, Waterfront
24 Aug – London UK, Troxy
26 Aug – La Tour-De-Peilz CH, Nox Orae Festival
2 Sep – Dallas TX, Granada Theater
3 Sep – Austin TX, Paramount Theatre
7 Sep – Phoenix AZ, Crescent Ballroom
8 Sep – Los Angeles CA, Lodge Room
9 Sep – Los Angeles CA, Lodge Room
12 Sep – San Francisco CA, Great American Music Hall
13 Sep – San Francisco CA, Great American Music Hall
15 Sep – Portland OR, Revolution Hall
16 Sep – Seattle WA, The Crocodile Showroom
19 Sep – Omaha NE, Waiting Room Showroom
20 Sep – Minneapolis MN, Fine Line Music Cafe
21 Sep – Chicago IL, Cabaret Metro
23 Sep – Detroit MI, Magic Bag
24 Sep – Cleveland OH, Beachland Ballroom
26 Sep – Toronto ON, Phoenix Concert Theater
27 Sep – Montreal QC, Theatre National
29 Sep – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
30 Sep – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
Check out more Swans coverage here at the blog.
