Swans have announced their sixteenth studio album: The Beggar is set to arrive on June 23 via Mute/Young God Records. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the new single ‘Paradise is Mine’. Check it out below, along with the LP’s cover artwork, tracklist, and Swans’ upcoming tour dates.
The follow-up to 2019’s leaving meaning. was recorded and mixed at Candy Bomber Studio in Berlin. It was written and produced by bandleader Michael Gira, engineered by Ingo Krauss, and mastered by Doug Henderson. The record features contributions from recent and former Swans members, members of Angels of Light, as well as “guest Swan” Ben Frost. Jennifer Gira, Lucy Kruger, and Laura Carbone provided backing vocals.
“After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else,” Gira said in a press release. “They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy the album.”
The Beggar Cover Artwork:
The Beggar Tracklist:
1. The Parasite
2. Paradise is Mine
3. Los Angeles: City of Death
4. Michael is Done
5. Unforming
6. The Beggar
7. No More of This
8. Ebbing
9. Why Can’t I Have What I Want Any Time That I Want?
10. The Beggar Lover (Three)
11. The Memorious
Swans 2023 Tour Dates:
May 20– Leipzig DE – UT Connewitz
May 21 – Poznan PL – CK Zamek
May 23 – Katowice PL – Kino Teatr Rialto
May 25 – Zilina SK – New Synagogue
May 26 – Ljubljana SL – Kino Siska
May 27 – Innsbruck, AT – Heart of Noise Festival, Treibhaus
May 29 – Bologna IT – Teatro Duse
May 31 – Lyon FR – Transbordeur
June 2 – Barcelona ES – Primavera Sound Festival
June 4 – Lisbon PT – Culturgest
June 5 – Lisbon PT – Culturgest
June 6 – Faro PT – Teatro Das Figuras
June 9 – Madrid ES – Primavera Sound Festival
June 11 – Athens GR – Vraxon Theatre
June 13 – Thessaloniki GR – Moni Lazariston
June 15 – Antwerp BE – Bourlaschouwburg
June 16 – Utrecht NL – Hertz Theatre
Aug 11 – Brighton UK – St George’s
Aug 12 – Manchester UK – Albert Hall
Aug 15 – Newcastle UK – Boiler Shop
Aug 16 – Glasgow UK – St Luke’s
Aug 18 – Bristol UK – Arc Tangent Festival
Aug 19 – Leeds UK – Belgrave Music Hall
Aug 21 – Dublin IE – The Academy
Aug 23 – Norwich UK – Waterfront
Aug 24 – London UK – Troxy
Aug 26 – La Tour-De-Peilz CH – Nox Orae Festival
Sep 2 – Dallas TX – Granada Theater
Sep 3 – Austin TX – Paramount Theatre
Sep 7 – Phoenix AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Sep 8 – Los Angeles CA – Lodge Room
Sep 9 – Los Angeles CA – Lodge Room
Sep 12 – San Francisco CA – Great American Music Hall
Sep 13 – San Francisco CA – Great American Music Hall
Sep 15 – Portland OR – Revolution Hall
Sep 16 – Seattle WA – The Crocodile Showroom
Sep 19 – Omaha NE – Waiting Room Showroom
Sep 20 – Minneapolis MN – Fine Line Music Cafe
Sep 21 – Chicago IL – Cabaret Metro
Sep 23 – Detroit MI – Magic Bag
Sep 24 – Cleveland OH – Beachland Ballroom
Sep 26 – Toronto ON – Phoenix Concert Theater
Sep 27 – Montreal QC – Theatre National
Sep 29 – Brooklyn NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sep 30 – Brooklyn NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
