r/swans

By that I mean bands who make really long songs (lets say 20+ minutes) regularly in their discography like Swans do. Preferably not straight up ambient/drone.

Just realized ive heard too little of her so far

i've been listening to them a bunch recently, i'm doing pretty miserably in life and have resonated a lot with the sounds and lyricism of albums like STFTB, white light, the seer and especially swans are dead. it's some of the most evocative, enthralling and beautiful music i've heard - however, i can't find myself enjoying it much at all on good days. i don't have the patience for or interest in it that usually otherwise feels natural. i figure this is a pretty mundane observation about how mood affects music preference but i'd like to hear from other people on this specifically.

Might seem very obvious but listening to the performance in Berlin I just wish I could’ve heard that fully mixed, especially since it’s grown so much since The Gate. Really the only thing holding it back.

Given that fantano has been one of the largest public supporters of Swans post reunion, it's nice to see his thoughts on the end of the big sound era.

There seems to be a theme of water and drowning that runs through the album. But otherwise I’m not sure what’s going on haha. The title track seems to detail the creation story. That’s all I got. How are you all interpreting the songs on the live album ?

When Live Rope first came out, I made a super hyperbolic post about how it was likely the best thing Swans ever released, and thankfully, that post aged pretty well, as it's most certainly among their best.

I resisted doing the same with Newly Sentient Being, despite already claiming it as their best set live when I saw it twice last year.

After 5/6 listens, I've got to be honest - I think this might be their crowning achievement. It's absolutely sensational beyond words. Every single track is a marvel. Need I say any words on The End of Forgetting? I believe it is the best thing they have ever done under the name Swans. Then we have the Merge - everything I have wanted from Swans since they reunited. Locking into that groove endlessly, to then slip into a slinky, dub outro with some exceptional lyrics and atmosphere... The now essential version of Paradise is Mine, taking what was already a great song and draping in additional menace and ambience. Newly Sentient Being is an absolute monster that covers all elements of Swans from beginning to end; the quintessential commentary on my favourite band of all time. And to finish it off, The End of Regretting, the credits soundtrack. Such a marvelous, eccentric way to close this chapter.

I am absolutely in love with this record and I am so grateful it exists and I can listen to it for ever more.