Overview
The Burning World is the sixth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released on May 15, 1989, through record label Uni Records, the band's only major-label release. Co-produced by Bill Laswell and band leader Michael Gira, the album features a major stylistic shift from their past releases, being very tuneful and accessible compared to the bleak, industrialized sound from their records. It received a mixed reception and was a commercial disappointment; the band was dropped from the record label following its poor performance.
Background and music
Following the unexpected popularity of the band's cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," the band signed to Uni Records, owned by MCA Inc. (now Universal Music). Due to Uni's insistence, Swans leader Michael Gira co-produced the album with bass guitarist Bill Laswell. During the recording sessions Swans consisted of Gira on vocals and guitar, keyboardist/singer Jarboe and guitarist Norman Westberg. They were accompanied by Laswell on bass guitar, as well as a series of Laswell's regular collaborators as session musicians on "multicultural instruments". The album's style has been described as "acoustic-folk", "'world music' rock with electric shadings", and "dark Americana".
Laswell's production work also weights on the album's sound, with "a much more somber, elegiac approach to music-making." Despite appreciating Laswell's production work in general, Gira was critical of The Burning World. In 2011, he stated: "I abhor that record. Bill Laswell is a very good producer, but we didn't mesh well. I was intimidated and sang in this cramped, monotone way. It didn't sell, and we got dropped." Gira also rehired guitarist Nicky Skopelitis and brought along drummer Anton Fier, both Laswell stalwarts, for the Swans albums White Light From the Mouth of Infinity (1991) and The Great Annihilator (1995).
Critical reception
The album received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, who often criticized Bill Laswell's production. AllMusic wrote, "Ultimately, Burning sounds more like a compromised major label Laswell project than a Swans album, to its overall detriment", calling the album a "general disappointment". Rosemary Passatino of Spin praised the album, commenting: "Shockingly, Burning World is unbashedly pretty as it is dark." She also described the album as "elegant" and "surprisingly tender."
Commercial performance
While the album reportedly sold only 5,000 copies in the United Kingdom, the single "Saved" enjoyed relative success, peaking at number 20 on the U.S. College Radio charts and number 28 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart, respectively.
Personnel
* Michael Gira – vocals, guitar, production, album cover concept and design * Jarboe – vocals, keyboards * Norman Westberg – guitar * Jason Asnes – bass guitar * Virgil Moorefield – drums * Nicky Skopelitis – bağlama, bouzouki * L. Shankar – double violin * Fred Frith – violin * Jeff Bova – keyboards * Aïyb Dieng – percussion * Trilok Gurtu – tabla * Bernard Fowler – background vocals * Fred Fowler – background vocals * Karl Berger – vibraphone, string arrangement, conducting * Mark Feldman – violin * Larry Packer – violin * John Kass – viola * Richard Carr – viola * Garo Yellin – cello * Bill Laswell – production, bass guitar * Bruce Calder – recording * Martin Bisi – recording * Robert Musso – recording * Jason Corsaro – mixing * Oz Fritz – engineering assistance * Howie Weinberg – mastering * DZN, The Design Group – sleeve artwork * Vartan – sleeve art direction * Wim V. D.
Hulst – back cover photography * Robert Mapplethorpe – front cover photography (Calla Lilly)