By Dustin Carroll
I could write an extensive biography about how Swans have been one of the most important, innovative, and angry bands of the past 3 decades, but you should already know all about that. You hopefully also went and caught their set at Neumos on September 7th. What matters most right now however, is that the group just released an utter masterpiece of an album. The two-disc, 11-song, two hour opus is quite possibly the best thing the band has ever released – and that’s a very bold statement. With various guest appearances including former member Jarboe, the infamous Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and assorted members of Akron/Family and Low, the Seer drifts and ebbs through any boundaries you may have for contemporary musical ideas. Michael Gira is re-writing the game he’s already re-written once or twice before. There’s so many additional instruments used on this album, coupled with some of the most fun dirge/drone frequency work since Sunn and Boris got together, that fans of folk music, doom metal, and even Swans past dark industrial albums will likely all be drawn into The Seer’s quest. With two 20-minute long tracks and a 30+ minute long title track, patience is indeed a virtue, as you’d be doing yourself and this album an injustice by skipping around and listening to select tracks. It’s meant to be listened to all the way through, focused on, allowed to swallow your consciousness whole and have its way with your mind and your emotions. You’ll come out the other side much better.
