Swans, the avant-garde collective known for their intense and immersive soundscapes, return with "The Glowing Man," a sprawling double album that pushes the boundaries of their already expansive musical palette. Released on June 17, 2016, under the iconic Mute label, this monumental work clocks in at nearly two hours, offering a dense and rewarding journey through a diverse array of genres, including noise rock, post-rock, neofolk, industrial, and experimental sounds.
"The Glowing Man" is a testament to Swans' ability to blend raw power with intricate composition. The album opens with the haunting "Cloud of Forgetting" and "Cloud of Unknowing," setting a tone that oscillates between meditative and explosive. Tracks like "The World Looks Red / The World Looks Black" and "Frankie M" showcase the band's knack for creating atmospheric, textured soundscapes that are as much about the spaces between the notes as they are about the notes themselves.
With "People Like Us," Swans deliver a track that is both anthemic and unsettling, while "When Will I Return?" offers a moment of introspection amidst the chaos. The title track, "The Glowing Man," is a sprawling epic that encapsulates the album's ethos—layered, intense, and deeply immersive. The album closes with "Finally, Peace," a fittingly titled track that provides a sense of resolution after the sonic journey.
Swans have always been a band that defies easy categorization, and "The Glowing Man" is no exception. It's an album that demands attention and rewards patience, offering a rich tapestry of sounds that are as challenging as they are beautiful. For fans of Swans and those who appreciate avant-garde and experimental music, "The Glowing Man" is a powerful addition to their discography.
Vinylscout