Swans
Holy Money

LA RECENSIONE

Just a couple of days ago, I was talking with my colleagues Shitbeard, Cypher, and Rocky Marciano about the Swans and their lack of reviews here on Debasio, with quite some surprise too.

I didn't feel like taking on such a responsibility, but relistening to some of their albums these nights pushed me to write about them, choosing this sibling album to "Greed," the last chapter of the first era of the Swans: the No Wave era. Year 1986.

I am aware that I am approaching a colossal band, so I am also ready to be hanged. Metaphorically or literally?

In any case, it's precisely with "A Hanging" that 'Holy Money' starts.
And this is how this new torture session begins as well, because that's how I like to think of the albums from that era.
Everything is so dissonant, mechanically oppressive, with that touch of filth. And it creates a pleasant addiction.

Michael Gira's voice seduces you and commands you by repeating words into your ear, sometimes whispering and sometimes not. He is the one who directs everything, and we're perfectly fine with that.
But there are also moments of relief because dear Jarboe caresses us with her own voice: she is finally given a little more space to test all the hypnotic abilities of her sweet but sinister singing (see "You Need Me").
There are also times when you have both of them, him in one ear and her in another, just to confuse you, torture you, and play with your emotions a bit more than they already are ("Another You").

It's an album that creates confusion, bewilderment, and alienation.
It makes me feel violated every time it comes to an end.

But our Swans are so good at doing it that I let them. And it was head swan Gira who told me to write all this down.