Swan (disambiguation)

A swan is a bird of the genus Cygnus.

Swan or swans may also refer to the following:

Sport

Music and dance

Ships and boats

Swans (EP)

Swans is an EP by the experimental rock band Swans. Their first album, it was released in 1982 on Labor.

Background

Although rooted in the no wave scene and different from Swans' forthcoming releases in its prominent use of the saxophone and relative absence of brutality, the EP remains an intense listen, demonstrating the early stages in the evolution of the violent, repetitious and noisy style that Swans' earlier releases would become known for.

The EP was re-EQ'd by M. Gira and S. McAllister, remastered, and appended to the 1990 reissue of the follow-up album Filth LP on Gira's own Young God label. On the reissue CD the tracks are in a different order; the tracks on each side of the EP are reversed. The 1990 Filth CD on which the EP was reissued is long out of print. Although Filth was reissued again by Young God in 1999 and 2014, Swans did not appear on any subsequent Young God Records reissue until Spring 2015, as a Record Store Day Exclusive Release.

The 2015 12" reissue and versions appearing on the Filth Deluxe Edition 3-CD set are the original 1982 mixes faithfully restored.

Swans (band)

Swans (/swɒnz/) is an American experimental rock band originally active from 1982 to 1997, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. The band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York no wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. Formed by Gira in 1982, Swans employed a shifting lineup of musicians until their dissolution in 1997. Besides Gira, the only other constant members were keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter Jarboe from 1984 to 1997, and semi-constant guitarist Norman Westberg. The band became known for its experimental instrumentation and repetitive song structures. In 2010, Gira reformed Swans without Jarboe.

Biography

Early years (1982–1985)

Initial influences

Gira always states he took the moniker Swans as it described the sound he wanted best. Gira's summation of the name follows along the lines of: "Swans are majestic, beautiful looking creatures. With really ugly temperaments."

The earliest known lineup of Swans comprised Gira on bass guitar and vocals, Jonathan Kane on drums, Sue Hanel on guitar, Mojo on percussion and tape loops and either Thurston Moore, Dan Braun or Jon Tessler on the second bass guitar. Jon Tessler also played percussion and tape loops. Hanel's only recordings with the group are on the compilation Body to Body, Job to Job, but the ambiguous personnel credits do not make it clear on which songs she performed. Kane stated that "Sue was the most fearsome guitarist we'd ever heard in New York. She was unbelievable."