by Adam Aiken
Experimental rock trailblazers Swans are on their way to Norwich as part of their UK and European tour.
The cult New York outfit, who began life in 1982, will play The Waterfront tomorrow (Wednesday, August 23) in support of The Beggar, which is their 16th studio album.
The record, which was released in June, was written and produced by Swans mainman Michael Gira, with contributions from current and former members of the band as well as members of Gira’s spin-off band, Angels Of Light.
Gira said The Beggar was born out of the frustration he’d suffered during the enforced layoff that quickly followed the release of the previous Swans album.
“After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for Leaving Meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation, I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else,” he said.
“They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last.
“When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from black and white to colour. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic.”
Support comes from Norman Westberg, a former Swan who has had four stints with the band.
Click here for tickets.
