The Beggar

by Swans

* 'The Beggar' is another huge album by the Swans act, clocking in at a whopping 2 hours, sporting one of the longest songs in their discography with a 40+ minute one! Already this album completely does away with accessibility unapologetically, even if the other track lengths are comparatively short (11 and under). This is a feature of the double album which makes it intimidating, but having listened to it I can tell you that it is actually a comforting album.

* The album's sound brews a melting pot of previously done styles by Swans and even 1:1 replicas of lyrics and instrumental sections. You can expect the harrowing drones and angelic choirs sustaining for long periods of time, but you may be surprised by the reuse of their Gothic Country style in the late 80's and early 90's. On those tracks it provides a warm and tender feeling, providing that sense of comfort I was talking about. Typical song structure with the hard drums and guitars can be heard too, some even being reminiscent of their no-wave era—albeit far less dry and harsh.

The album keeps a steady pacing, as I said the songs are short in comparison to ones featuring on the Trilogy, and especially compared to the aforementioned 40 minute track. This lends to a smooth-sailing experience as everything is succinct and concise. The plethora of repetition of instrumental loops can get dreary—especially on 'Ebbing'—but it is rare to see the repetition get to a point of boredom, instead, it is often a juicy repetition that helps you sink into the sound more by focusing in on a single moment.

* The 40 minute track, 'The Beggar Lover (Three)' is the focal song that encapsulates the album's themes and sound. The album covers Michael Gira's fleeting self image and struggle with the inevitability of death, and in this song the theme gets explored with the added concept of rebirth. The song incorporates lyrics directly from 'leaving meaning.' and references several albums dating back to 'Helpless Child' on their 1995 double album 'Soundtracks for the Blind.'

* Death is the major theme of the album, there is a cohesive story and character development from the narrator of these songs in which he goes from being fearful of death, to accepting its inevitability, and to embracing it and being reborn. The album also criticizes the world and society. 'Paradise Is Mine' is a track which reflects on death and speaks about a society where all that matters is material pleasures. It also speaks on the abuse of the institution of work, the song 'The Memorious' reflects his lived experience working as a miner in Israel and the strain and pain that caused.

* 'The Beggar' is surprisingly sweet, and well-paced album. It is grappling regarding its themes of death and sense of self, with satisfying character development enhancing the message that the album tells. With its classic Swans structure, borrowing of previous works, and homage to Swans' ever-evolving sound, it is absolutely worth a listen for devoted Swans enjoyers.