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Swans announce new album, 'To Be Kind,' featuring St. Vincent, Cold Specks, and Little Annie

“Recording with Michael Gira and Swans was a dream come true. Proud to have been a part of an epicly great record. #johncongleton” – St. Vincent

by Andrew Sacher

Swans at Warsaw in 2013 (more by Caroline Harrison)
Swans

Swans are finally set to follow up their excellent 2012 LP The Seer with a new album, To Be Kind, on May 13 via Michael Gira’s Young God label in North American and Mute worldwide. Gira points out that some of the material was developed during their 2012/13 tour, so though the full tracklist hasn’t been revealed yet, it seems likely that the title track is the opening song on Swans’ recent live album, Not Here / Not Now. Another song from that live album, “Bring the Sun,” has been confirmed for the new LP too.

Excitingly, the album features vocals “throughout the record” from Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent (!), plus their Mute labelmate Cold Specks and cabaret singer Little Annie, who has opened for Swans before. Gira produced the album with John Congleton, who also produced the new St. Vincent album. Like The Seer, this one will be just over two hours long.

For this album Gira will be joined by Norman Westberg, Christoph Hahn, Phil Puleo, Thor Harris, and Christopher Pravdica.

The only currently announced Swans date is ATP Iceland, but Gira just announced a solo tour of Europe. All of those dates are listed, along with a live video of “To Be Kind,” below…

Swans – “To Be Kind” at Primavera Sound 2013

Michael Gira — 2014 Tour Dates
03-01 Lyon, France – Les Abattoirs
03-04 Porto, Portugal – Passos Manuel
03-06 Madrid, Spain – El Sol
03-07 San Sebastian, Spain – Andia Kuxta
03-08 Barcelona, Spain – Sala Apolo
03-10 Paris, France – Église Saint-Merri Church
03-11 Amsterdam, Netherlands – MC Theater
03-12 London, England – Church of St John-at-Hackney
03-14 Copenhagen, Denmark – Hofteatret
03-15 Oslo, Norway – Blå
03-16 Oslo, Norway – Emanuel Vigeland Mausoleum Museum
03-18 Warsaw, Poland – Pardon, To Tu
03-19 Warsaw, Poland – Pardon, To Tu
03-21 St. Petersburg, Russia – Dada
03-22 Moscow, Russia – Teatr Club
03-24 Odessa, Ukraine – Bernardazzi Wine Club
03-26 Bucharest, Romania – Control Club
03-27 Bologna, Italy – Locomotiv
03-28 Milan, Italy – Bloom
03-29 Berlin, Germany – Kantine @ Berghain

(via Pitchfork)