White Light from the Mouth of Infinity

White Light from the Mouth of Infinity
Studio album by Swans
Released	May 6, 1991
Recorded	September 1990 – February 1991
Studio	B. Monster Studios, New York City, United States
Genre	Post-punk [1] gothic rock [2] neofolk [2] psychedelic rock [3]
Length	69:19
Label	Young God
Producer	Michael Gira
Swans chronology
Anonymous Bodies in an Empty Room (1990) White Light from the Mouth of Infinity (1991) Body to Body, Job to Job (1991)

White Light from the Mouth of Infinity is the seventh studio album by the American band Swans. It was released on May 6, 1991, in the United Kingdom, through Young God Records. ^[4] The band supported the album with a North American tour. ^[5]

In 2015, it was remastered and made available digitally and in a 3CD (and 3LP) set along with Love of Life and an album of bonus tracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Drowned in Sound	8.0/10 [7]
Los Angeles Times	[8]
Mojo	[9]
NME	8.0/10 [10]
Ondarock	8.5/10 [11]
Pitchfork	7.9/10 [2]
PopMatters	9.0/10 [12]
Spectrum Culture	[13]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	5/10 [14]

The Los Angeles Times wrote that Michael Gira's "search for heaven and hell—in both mind and body—continues on its fascinating, sometimes harrowing way." ^[8]

AllMusic described the album as "stunning" and a "clear starting point for the second half of Swans' unique career." ^[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael Gira.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Better Than You"	5:51
2.	"Power and Sacrifice"	5:37
3.	"You Know Nothing"	5:46
4.	"Song for Dead Time"	5:24
5.	"Will We Survive"	6:51
6.	"Love Will Save You"	6:06
7.	"Failure"	6:20
8.	"Song for the Sun"	5:03
9.	"Miracle of Love"	6:43
10.	"When She Breathes"	5:03
11.	"Why Are We Alive?"	5:29
12.	"The Most Unfortunate Lie"	5:02
Total length:		69:19

2015 Remaster version

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Better Than You"	5:51
2.	"Power and Sacrifice"	5:36
3.	"You Know Nothing"	5:46
4.	"Song for Dead Time" (alternate version)	4:58
5.	"Will We Survive" (edited version)	5:59
6.	"Love Will Save You"	6:06
7.	"Failure"	6:20
8.	"Song for the Sun"	5:03
9.	"Miracle of Love"	6:43
10.	"Blind" (bonus track on reissue)	4:31
11.	"When She Breathes" (alternate version)	4:31
12.	"Why Are We Alive?" (extended version)	6:00
13.	"The Most Unfortunate Lie"	5:02
Total length:		72:26

Personnel

• Michael Gira  – vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, effects, samples, production
• Jarboe  – vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, choral and orchestral arrangements
• Christoph Hahn  – acoustic and electric guitar
• Clinton Steele – acoustic and electric guitar
• Norman Westberg  – electric guitar on "Better than You"
• Jenny Wade – bass guitar
• Anton Fier  – drums, drum programming
• Nicky Skopelitis  – acoustic and electric guitar, baglama, bazouki, banjo
• Vincent Signorelli  – percussion
• Hahn Rowe  – violin
• Steve Burgh – mandolin, 12-string guitar
• J. G. Thirlwell  – engineering, re-mix assistance, programming and co-production on "Power and Sacrifice"
• Bryce Goggin – engineering
• Steve McAllister – engineering, programming (additional)
• Deryk Thomas – front cover illustration
• John Sarfell – inner sleeve foldout painting
• Patricia Mooney – sleeve layout
• Brian Martin – re-mixing
• Alex Armitage – re-mix assistance

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [15]	195

References

1. Terich, Jeff; Bossenger, A.T. (November 13, 2014). "10 Essential American post-punk albums". Treble. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
2. Sherburne, Philip (December 2, 2015). "Swans: White Light from the Mouth of Infinity / Love of Life". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 4, 2015.
3. Lariviere, Aaron (November 9, 2012). "Swans Albums From Worst To Best - White Light from the Mouth of Infinity". Stereogum . Retrieved July 17, 2020.
4. Unsworth, Cathi (April 27, 1991). "White Light from the Mouth of Infinity by Swans". Melody Maker . Vol. 68, no. 17. p. 36.
5. Buttars, Lori (April 24, 1992). "Swans dive into town". The Salt Lake Tribune . p. D6.
6. Raggett, Ned. "White Light from the Mouth of Infinity Swans". AllMusic . Retrieved February 20, 2013.
7. Bland, Benjamin (December 9, 2015). "White Light from the Mouth of Infinity/Love of Life (reissue box set)". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
8. Hochman, Steve (January 5, 1992). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 57.
9. Perry, Andrew (February 2016). "Swans: White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity/ Love of Life". Mojo . No. 267. p. 104.
10. Fadele, Dele (May 4, 1991). "Swans: White Light from the Mouth of Infinity (Young God/All formats)". NME . Retrieved August 22, 2025– via Rock's Backpages.
11. Fabretti, Claudio. "Swans – Liturgie dell'apocalisse". Ondarock (in Italian). Retrieved August 19, 2025.
12. Fiander, Matthew (December 15, 2015). "Swans: White Light From the Mouth of Infinity / Love of Life". PopMatters . Retrieved August 22, 2025.
13. Cole, Jake (December 3, 2015). "Swans: White Light from the Mouth of Infinity/Love of Life (Reissues)". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
14. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 390, 391.
15. "Ultratop.be – Swans – White Light from the Mouth of Infinity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.

External links

• White Light from the Mouth of Infinity at Discogs (list of releases)