Michael Gira "Solo/Acoustic CD" Young God Records 2001 (61:16)
What You Were (5:36)
All Soul's Rising (5:55)
Love Will Save You (4:46)
Surrogate
(5:45)
Kosinsky (4:47)
On the Mountain Looking Down (6:31)
Waiting
Besides Viragio (2:19)
Someone Like Me (4:47)
Remember
Who You Are (4:57)
Mosquito Coast (5:11)
Irish Queen (4:41)
God's Servant (4:48)
Mary Found John (1:13)
At the heart of much of Michael Gira's songs with SWANS and The Angels of Light is the bare essence of Gira, simply the voice and guitar. On this Young God Records web site exclusive, that's about all you get. Recorded alone at home, often as they were written, the 13 songs are new save for 2 SWANS reworkings ("Love Will Save You", "Remember Who You Are"), a fully orchestrated studio leftover from the first Angel's album sessions ("God's Servant", previously released on the "Praise Your Name" 7") and a live performance at Tonic NYC ("Irish Queen"). Gira unabashedly intones to the basic, often quiet, accompaniment of his acoustic guitar plucks and strums. The sound is, somewhat surprisingly, full, rich and complete. But then again, it's not a surprise if you've ever heard or seen Gira perform solo as I have, his emotional involvement with each song transcending the need for instrumental adornment. Simple and simply perfect. Lyrically Gira draws upon many of his trademark subjects: love, longing, loss, sex, betrayal and bitterness, as well as the influence of artists and authors (Madison Smartt Bell, Paul Theraux). The disc is signed and comes in a heavy vinyl folder with lyric sheet and self portrait cover assembled by Gira for $17. Gira will headline the opening night of the Neurot Sound Series: Beyond The Pale Festival August 16th in San Francisco and an Angels of Light tour will likely take place in September ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Young God Records.