While the predecessor "The Seer" I think partly somewhat aimlessly meandered around, Swans with the new album "To Be Kind" album as managed from a single source. Everything is precisely structured, no sound acts arbitrarily, but never manages to lose the virtuosity the feat. It is a controlled ecstasy of incredible variety and epic. I must also express praise the production of the album. Everything sounds perfectly crisp and to the point, especially the drums. Michael Gira offers a vocal masterpiece, ranging from roaring like a mad to rapturously-emotional. Sometimes even within the same song. Overall, a musical maelstrom is created, which can be described as mind-expanding outright and it is simply addictive. The first few days after I bought the album, I had to listen to it every day in full length.
The DVD offers an interesting insight into how this band works, how the mesh wheel. That's what interests me at concert DVDs most. For me, a strong contender for album of the year, along with "Benji" by Sun Kil Moon.