Swans - Birthing (2025)
Swans - Birthing (2025)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 741 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 272 Mb | 01:55:40
Experimental Rock, Psychedelic Rock | Label: Mute Records, Young God
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 741 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 272 Mb | 01:55:40
Experimental Rock, Psychedelic Rock | Label: Mute Records, Young God
Swans return with Birthing, the latest album developed over the course of a yearlong 2023–2024 tour. Birthing is released via Mute and Young God Records.Tracklist:
Refined through relentless improvisation and live performance, as well as newly composed studio pieces, Birthing is a testament to Michael Gira’s uncompromising sonic vision. Beginning as skeletal acoustic compositions, the songs were gradually expanded and transformed in the studio with longtime live members and collaborators.
“This album, coupled with the recent live release, Live Rope, constitutes my final foray (as producer / impresario) into the all-consuming sound worlds that have been my obsession for years. We’ll do a final tour in this mode towards the end of 2025, then that’s it. After that, Swans will continue, so long as I’m able, but in a significantly pared down form. Hints of that direction can be found in a few moments on the current album. In the meantime, my hope is that the music provides a positive and fertile atmosphere in which to dream.” – Michael Gira / Swans
Produced by Gira, Birthing was recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin, mixed at Candy Bomber Studio by Ingo Krauss, and mastered by Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose.
AllMusic Review by Paul Simpson
Swans' later albums have often been presented as both endings and new beginnings of some form or another. After a series of colossal post-reunion releases during the 2010s which surprisingly managed to become the band's most commercially successful efforts, Michael Gira stepped back and made the more ruminative, acoustic-based leaving meaning., then edged closer to a more epic sound with The Beggar. Concert release Live Rope (which was enormously well-received by fans, and has remained in print, unlike many of the band's between-album releases) indicated that Gira was interested in returning Swans to the intense, transcendent state of monolithic works like The Seer and To Be Kind. Birthing is said to be the last "big sound" Swans release before the group continues in a more pared-down form. Essentially, it's not that far off from The Glowing Man, which means that it's familiar territory for anyone who has spent time with the band's albums or experienced their concerts, but it's still an incredibly powerful record. Most of the pieces were developed on tour and rearranged in the studio, and some of them were captured in a previous form on Live Rope. Nearly all of the tracks establish a hypnotic, mystical aura before abruptly changing or ramping up into more chaotic sections. "I Am a Tower" is one of the album's most dazzling compositions, gliding and swarming through several moods and states before emerging as a triumphant procession. The title track has a lengthy, majestic build and a more delicate section in which Gira repeatedly asks "will it end?," then a more forceful, noisy acceleration which slams everything shut. "Red Yellow" and "The Merge" are the album's only two songs which were created entirely in the studio. The former is shorter and steadier, with more of a sensual groove, while the latter begins with pummeling electronic chaos, juxtaposing a child's voice with volatile outbursts. "Rope" is a glimmering, levitating buildup which leads into "Away," a blissful resolution rather than an explosive finale. While some Swans albums can be overwhelmingly bleak or cathartic, Birthing generally feels hopeful and empowering, with Gira seeming more at peace than he has in the past.
CD1
1. The Healers (21:42)
2. I Am a Tower (19:18)
3. Birthing (22:21)
CD2
1. Red Yellow (6:52)
2. Guardian Spirit (10:58)
3. The Merge (15:19)
4. Rope (14:50)
5. Away (4:21)
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020
EAC extraction logfile from 30. May 2025, 17:02
Swans / Birthing
Used drive : TSSTcorpCDDVDW SE-208DB Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 21:41.50 | 0 | 97624
2 | 21:41.50 | 19:17.42 | 97625 | 184441
3 | 40:59.17 | 22:20.62 | 184442 | 285003
Track 1
Filename G:\Birthing\01._The_Healers.wav
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Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 20DD3509
Copy CRC 20DD3509
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename G:\Birthing\02._I_Am_a_Tower.wav
Peak level 97.0 %
Extraction speed 2.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FDE76557
Copy CRC FDE76557
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename G:\Birthing\03._Birthing.wav
Peak level 97.1 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 66F622FF
Copy CRC 66F622FF
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: VrFrY0dbXyvP18F..8EKeeV2oiI-] found
Submit result: VrFrY0dbXyvP18F..8EKeeV2oiI- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum 12D3A218274A6759CEDE2C67A1C214D8AC7197D35AB93B5C77F39F0BC83B4281 ====
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020
EAC extraction logfile from 30. May 2025, 17:35
Swans / Birthing
Used drive : TSSTcorpCDDVDW SE-208DB Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 6:51.42 | 0 | 30866
2 | 6:51.42 | 10:57.43 | 30867 | 80184
3 | 17:49.10 | 15:19.07 | 80185 | 149116
4 | 33:08.17 | 14:50.23 | 149117 | 215889
5 | 47:58.40 | 4:21.37 | 215890 | 235501
Track 1
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Peak level 97.3 %
Extraction speed 2.8 X
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Test CRC 79686231
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\02._Guardian_Spirit.wav
Peak level 96.9 %
Extraction speed 3.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FDACF56B
Copy CRC FDACF56B
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\03._The_Merge.wav
Peak level 97.0 %
Extraction speed 4.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 0DCA223C
Copy CRC 0DCA223C
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\04._Rope.wav
Peak level 96.7 %
Extraction speed 5.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3EE185DA
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\05._Away.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3FC6D33E
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: tudBuzRdzWTpqzZ971oYeveCdec-] found
Submit result: tudBuzRdzWTpqzZ971oYeveCdec- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
4 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
5 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum 4737CFC0BDAE60F209881AB73DD7073E710AA772A73A8ECAD0DF15ED0F1D62FE ====
EAC extraction logfile from 30. May 2025, 17:02
Swans / Birthing
Used drive : TSSTcorpCDDVDW SE-208DB Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 21:41.50 | 0 | 97624
2 | 21:41.50 | 19:17.42 | 97625 | 184441
3 | 40:59.17 | 22:20.62 | 184442 | 285003
Track 1
Filename G:\Birthing\01._The_Healers.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 20DD3509
Copy CRC 20DD3509
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename G:\Birthing\02._I_Am_a_Tower.wav
Peak level 97.0 %
Extraction speed 2.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FDE76557
Copy CRC FDE76557
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename G:\Birthing\03._Birthing.wav
Peak level 97.1 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 66F622FF
Copy CRC 66F622FF
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: VrFrY0dbXyvP18F..8EKeeV2oiI-] found
Submit result: VrFrY0dbXyvP18F..8EKeeV2oiI- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum 12D3A218274A6759CEDE2C67A1C214D8AC7197D35AB93B5C77F39F0BC83B4281 ====
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020
EAC extraction logfile from 30. May 2025, 17:35
Swans / Birthing
Used drive : TSSTcorpCDDVDW SE-208DB Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 6:51.42 | 0 | 30866
2 | 6:51.42 | 10:57.43 | 30867 | 80184
3 | 17:49.10 | 15:19.07 | 80185 | 149116
4 | 33:08.17 | 14:50.23 | 149117 | 215889
5 | 47:58.40 | 4:21.37 | 215890 | 235501
Track 1
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\01._Red_Yellow.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 97.3 %
Extraction speed 2.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 79686231
Copy CRC 79686231
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\02._Guardian_Spirit.wav
Peak level 96.9 %
Extraction speed 3.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FDACF56B
Copy CRC FDACF56B
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\03._The_Merge.wav
Peak level 97.0 %
Extraction speed 4.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 0DCA223C
Copy CRC 0DCA223C
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\04._Rope.wav
Peak level 96.7 %
Extraction speed 5.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3EE185DA
Copy CRC 3EE185DA
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename G:\Birthing\CD 2\05._Away.wav
Peak level 96.8 %
Extraction speed 5.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3FC6D33E
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: tudBuzRdzWTpqzZ971oYeveCdec-] found
Submit result: tudBuzRdzWTpqzZ971oYeveCdec- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
4 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
5 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum 4737CFC0BDAE60F209881AB73DD7073E710AA772A73A8ECAD0DF15ED0F1D62FE ====
Thanks to the Original ripper !