13 (Norman Westberg album)

Last updated
13
Norman Westberg 13 album cover.jpg
Studio album by Norman Westberg
Released November 13, 2015 (2015-11-13)
Recorded 2013
Length31:04
Label Room40
Producer Norman Westberg
Norman Westberg chronology
Jasper Sits Out
(2014)		13
(2015)

13 is a solo album by American musician and Swans guitarist Norman Westberg. Originally released as a handmade limited edition disc, the album officially released on November 13, 2015 through Lawrence English's Room40 record label. [1]

Swans (band) American band

Swans are an American experimental rock band formed in 1982 by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. One of few acts to emerge from the New York City-based no wave scene and stay intact into the next decade, Swans have become recognized for an ever-changing sound, exploring genres such as noise rock, post-punk, industrial and post-rock. Initially, their music was known for its sonic brutality and misanthropic lyrics. Following the addition of singer, songwriter and keyboardist Jarboe, who first appeared on the 1986 single "Time Is Money (Bastard)" and debuted as a songwriter on the 1987 album Children of God, Swans began to incorporate more melody and intricacy into their music. Jarboe remained the band's only constant member except Gira and semi-constant guitarist Norman Westberg until their dissolution in 1997.

Norman Westberg American guitarist

Norman Westberg is a guitarist from Detroit best known for his work with Swans. Present through almost the entirety of the band's existence, Westberg was brought on for Swans' debut album Filth (1983) and appeared on every album through 1991's White Light From the Mouth of Infinity. Westberg became a full-time Swans member once again when Michael Gira reactivated the group in 2010.

Lawrence English Australian composer

Lawrence English is a composer, artist and curator living in Brisbane, Australia. His work is broadly concerned with the politics of perception, specifically he is interested in the nature of listening and sounds' capability to occupy the body. He is the director of the imprint Room40, started in 2000.

Contents

Background

Recorded in 2013, the album was released as a handmade limited edition of only 75 copies. The album was subsequently remastered and edited for a CD and digital release. The opening track, "Frostbite Falls," was released for streaming on September 18, 2015. [2]

Room40 founder Lawrence English stated on the album:

"His guitar, as singular source, becomes transformed through a web of outboard processes. He transforms vibrating strings completely, taking singular gesture and reshapes it through webs of delay, reverb and other treatments. To me, these works echo many of the concerns of American minimalism and sprawl towards the work of bands such as Stars of the Lid. Norman has created a very dense and powerful statement of intent with these recordings and I couldn't be more pleased to have some small part in helping to share them." [3]

Stars of the Lid is an American ambient music duo consisting of Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie. The duo formed in Austin, Texas in 1993, and they list among their influences minimalist and electronic composers such as Arvo Pärt, Zbigniew Preisner, Gavin Bryars, and Henryk Górecki, as well as Talk Talk, post-rock artists Labradford, and ambient innovator Brian Eno. Their compositions are largely beatless soundscapes, composed of droning, effects-treated guitars along with piano, strings, and horns; volume swells and feedback fill the gap of rhythmic instruments, providing dynamic movement. Their sound has been described as "divine, classical drone without the tedious intrusion of drums or vocals."

Track listing

All tracks written by Norman Westberg.

  1. "Frostbite Falls" — 11:08
  2. "Bunny Bill" — 10:35
  3. "Oops, Wrong Hat" — 9:21

Personnel

Album personnel as adapted from Discogs. [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "Swans guitarist Norman Westberg announces solo album 13". Fact . September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (September 18, 2015). "Swans' Norman Westberg Announces Solo LP 13". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ Hudson, Alex (September 18, 2015). "Swans' Norman Westberg Treats '13' Solo Album to Wide Release". Exclaim! . Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Norman Westberg – 13". Discogs . Retrieved September 19, 2015.
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