marte

Swans is an interesting group, to say the least.

in their early years, they transitioned between atonal and primal no wave, sludgy gothic-esque industrial and spiritually dense neofolk with some pop rock hiccups along the way. but, in 1995, they decided that they really just wanted to rock out.

and they did.

Great Annihilator is not only a phenomenal album, but it's quite possibly their most intimate and straightforward release even to this day. both lyrically and sonically.

here, ... read more

i'm not what you’d call a “radiohead fan” by any means, but this release shows a band that has all the confidence and creativity necessary to pull their kinds of stunts on a live setting.

the explosiveness of National Anthem, Morning Bell and Idioteque. the cooler-than-thou grooves of I Might Be Wrong and Dollars and Cents. the raw emotion of Like Spinning Plates and True Love Waits. this is what this band is about and it shows beautifully on this recording.

the only ... read more

a beautiful collection of pop infused post-industrial, The Air Force is Xiu Xiu flexing their (fabulous) muscles after the ecletic but a bit shallow La Forêt.

Boy Soprano, Vulture Piano, Bishop, CA and Save Me Save Me are surprisingly catchy, dare i say almost normal, pop cuts drenched with all the delicious production and lyrical aptitude we're all accustomed of the group, while PJ In the Streets and Wig Master showcase the terrifying dark ambient escapes that newcomers dread but ... read more