Mute, today announces the signing of SWANS and details of a new album, To Be Kind, out May 12th. The album will be released on Mute (excluding North America), and Young God Records (North America).

A NOTE FROM MICHAEL GIRA:

Hello There,

We (Swans) have recently completed our new album. It is currently being mastered at the time of this writing. It is called To Be Kind. The release date is set for May 13, 2014. It will be available as a triple vinyl album, a double CD, and a 2XCD Deluxe Edition that will include a live DVD. It will also be available digitally. In addition, I am thinking of releasing it as a USB “stick” / flashdrive (with special packaging), so that this ultimate, high quality version can be listened to from beginning to end, without interruption  (the album is a little over 2 hours long).

The album was produced by me, and it was recorded by the venerable John Congleton at Sonic Ranch, outside El Paso Texas, and further recordings and mixing were accomplished at John’s studio in Dallas, Texas. We commenced rehearsals as Sonic Ranch in early October 2013, began recording soon thereafter, then completed the process of mixing with John in Dallas by mid December 2013.

A good portion of the material for this album was developed live during the Swans tours of 2012/13. Much of the music was otherwise conjured in the studio environment.

The recordings and entire process of this album were generously and perhaps vaingloriously funded by Swans supporters through our auspices at younggodrecords.com via the release of a special, handmade 2xCD live album entitled Not Here / Not Now. See details here: http://bit.ly/1igMi70

The Swans are: Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Christoph Hahn, Phil Puleo, Thor Harris, Christopher Pravdica.

Special Guests for this record include (among many others): Little Annie (Annie sang a duet with me on the song Some Things We Do, the strings for which were ecstatically arranged and played by Julia Kent); St. Vincent  (Annie Clark sang numerous, multi-tracked vocals throughout the record); Cold Specks (Al contributed numerous multi-tracked vocals to the song “Bring the Sun”); Bill Rieflin (honorary Swan Bill played too many instruments to list here, ranging from additional drums, to synthesizers, to piano, to electric guitar and so on. He has been a frequent contributor to Swans and Angels of Light and is currently playing with King Crimson)…

I love you! Michael Gira

Swans, led by Michael Gira, formed in 1982 and, after disbanding in 1997, returned with the critically acclaimed albums My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2010) and 2012’s The Seer.

Says Daniel Miller, “I can’t tell you how pleased and excited I am to be working with Michael again, the live shows he has been performing with Swans since they reformed have been utterly outstanding and like nothing else I’ve seen or heard before.”

Mute Song have published Swans since 2010 and prior to that, Mute sub label Product Inc released the classic album Children Of God in 1987.

In March 2014 Michael Gira will commence a solo acoustic tour of Europe (http://younggodrecords.com/live-shows), and in May 2014 Swans will embark on their most extensive tour ever, full details to follow.

http://younggodrecords.com/live-shows