The story of how I got into Swans starts with My Dying Bride. I remember reading an interview with Aaron Sainthrope right around the release of Turn Loose the Swans and he mentioned Swans multiple times as a strong influence for the album. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I wanted to find out more about this mysterious band.
It would be many many years later that I finally heard White Light... it remained this elusive album that was a distant mystery for all that time. I was always curious about it, but never really had the courage to dive in. When I finally did, my whole world changed.
White Light sees Swans realize all of the potential they had shown in all of their releases prior to this. It harnesses the dark subdued tones that they had been working up to on the previous few albums, and it all culminates in an album that rivals just about any other release in any other genre.
On White Light, Swans play a hypnotic version of gothic rock that has elements of classical, noise, ambient, and just about any other genre that goes well with darkness. The music is largely guitar based but in the same way a piano concerto is based on piano. It is the main element of many - and without those other elements it is entirely incomplete.
The songs themselves are often more subdued, focusing largely on Michael Gira's or Jarboe's voice. Michael's voice in particular is so warm, yet has a huge touch of sadness that never leaves.
I don't know how to effectively describe this album. It's so powerful and so unique that I have no other reference points. My only advice is to listen to it - preferably in a dark room with headphones - and do nothing but take the music in. There is so much here to feast on that it will take more than one listen to explore the depths of White Light From the Mouth of Infinity: Swans magnum opus.
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