Experimental music legends Swans have announced a new record, with Leaving Meaning serving as their first new release with a brand new lineup of “primary contributors”.
Back in 2017, Swans wrapped up their latest period of the band featuring a relatively stable lineup. While Michael Gira has always been the band’s sole constant member, this post-breakup period was set to give way to what was effectively a revolving cast of contributors.
Having teased a new record over the last few months, Swans have now revealed that this October will see the release of Leaving Meaning, the band’s 15th studio album.
“Leaving Meaning is the first Swans album to be released since I dissolved the lineup of musicians that constituted Swans from 2010 – 2017,” Gira explained.
“Swans is now comprised of a revolving cast of musicians, selected for both their musical and personal character, chosen according to what I intuit best suits the atmosphere in which I’d like to see the songs I’ve written presented.
“In collaboration with me, the musicians, through their personality, skill and taste, contribute greatly to the arrangement of the material. They’re all people whose work I admire and whose company I personally enjoy.”
A double album, in true Swans fashion this is something of an interesting project, with a veritable who’s-who of experimental music featuring on the new record.
While Michael Gira, Kristof Hahn, Larry Mullins, and Yoyo Röhm adopt the moniker of Swans, previous members such as Thor Harris, Christopher Pravdica, Phil Puleo, and Norman Westberg are all credited on the release.
Meanwhile, the new record will also feature contributions from the likes of Anna and Maria von Hausswolff, Baby Dee, Jeremy Barnes, and Heather Trost, while Aussie musicians Ben Frost and The Necks also feature prominently on the album.
To celebrate the forthcoming record, Swans have also shared the album’s first single, ‘It’s Coming It’s Real’, which you can hear below.
Check out ‘It’s Coming It’s Real’ by Swans:
Leaving Meaning Tracklist:
‘Hums’
‘Annaline’
‘The Hanging Man’
‘Amnesia’ – (with Anna and Maria von Hausswolff)
‘Leaving Meaning’ – (feat. The Necks)
‘Sunfucker’ – (with Anna and Maria von Hausswolff)
‘Cathedrals of Heaven’
‘The Nub’ – (with Baby Dee, also feat. The Necks)
‘It’s Coming It’s Real’ – (feat. Anna and Maria von Hausswolff)
‘Some New Things’
‘What Is This’
‘My Phantom Limb’
