The Beggar

by Swans

The Beggar cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 23 June 2023
  • Label: Mute, Young God
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 2:01:43
  • Community rating: 4.14/5 from 29 ratings

Artists on this release: Larry Mullins, Michael Gira, Christopher Pravdica, Dana Schechter, Phil Puleo, Kristof Hahn

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Constructed on post-rock and drone frameworks, 'The Beggar' features lengthy compositions built from woozy, nagging repetitions that slowly escalate from hushed beginnings into clangorous assaults. Michael Gira’s self-reflective lyrics contemplate mortality and existence, fostering an atmosphere of claustrophobic unease delivered through his signature ominous vocal style. Recorded in Berlin with a fluid lineup of core members and guest collaborators, the album continues the open-ended approach of its predecessor, employing layered instrumentation with lap steel, orchestral percussion, and synthesizers to push the band's sound into more nuanced and existential territory.

Genres

Descriptors: monolithic, repetitive, bleak, ritualistic, sprawling, experimental, long-form, minimal, ambient

Tracklist

  1. The Parasite (08:27)
  2. Paradise Is Mine (09:23)
  3. Los Angeles: City of Death (03:29)
  4. Michael is Done (06:08)
  5. Unforming (05:55)
  6. The Beggar (10:15)
  7. No More Of This (06:55)
  8. Ebbing (11:04)
  9. Why Can't I Have What I Want Any Time That I Want? (07:38)
  10. The Beggar Lover (Three) (43:51)
  11. The Memorious (08:38)

Credits

  • Michael Gira - vocals, words, acoustic guitar, production
  • Kristof Hahn - lap steel guitar, various guitars, vocals
  • Larry Mullins - drums, orchestral percussion, mellotron, vibes, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Dana Schechter - bass guitar, lap steel, keyboards, vocals, piano
  • Christopher Pravdica - bass guitar, sounds, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Puleo - drums, percussion, vocals, piano, exotic wind instruments
  • Ben Frost - guitar, synthesizers, sound manipulations
  • Jennifer Gira - backing vocals
  • Lucy Kruger - backing vocals
  • Laura Carbone - backing vocals
  • Norman Westberg - guitar on "ebbing"
  • Ingo Krauss - engineering
  • Doug Henderson - mastering
  • Nicole Boitos - artwork

More from Swans: full discography