Rising out of the bombardment that was New York’s no wave scene, Swans were like the dark, brooding older brother of Sonic Youth’s bratty sibling. By their break-up in 1998, the loud, clangy aggression of their early albums had taken on an almost baroque elegance, though still sonically quite ferocious. Front man Michael Gira then went on to form the Young Gods record label – who put out Akron/Family, Devendra Banhart and Mi and L'au – and set about forming and recoding with the slightly more mellow Angels of Light. Since Swans reformed earlier in the year, their first album, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, was fun... article continues »