Swans - Cloud of Unknowing

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  • Опубликовано: 23 ноя 2024
  • Buy on iTunes: itunes.apple.c...
    Hello, thank you for listening to our music. I hope it gives you some joy and pleasure.
    I am pleased that you have discovered our music through this medium. I view this experience as the equivalent of previewing a record in a record store in days of old. However, if you wish to experience the music in its' fullest form, I would strongly encourage you to acquire it in a physical format you can bring into your home. Not only will you then be able to experience the richest version of the music sonically, but you will also be afforded the opportunity to enjoy the tangible artwork, which was conceived in tandem with the music, and serves as a further portal to experiencing the total conceptual and spiritual and emotional content of the work we have labored, lovingly, to bring to you.
    I love you,
    Michael Gira / Swans / Young God Records
    Official Young God Records / Swans Store (all albums hand signed by M. Gira): bit.ly/1rY35P8
    Swans on iTunes: bit.ly/1nZmr5R

Комментарии •

  • @dfkdb6249
    @dfkdb6249 10 месяцев назад +51

    Call me crazy, but 14:35-16:20 is Swans’ best ever moment, and possibly the greatest climax I’ve ever heard in music

    • @La_Horca
      @La_Horca Месяц назад

      Crazy. It's still good tho.

  • @cloudystraightfromeden
    @cloudystraightfromeden 5 лет назад +258

    I am a bit late but... the name of the track is a reference to an anonymous text from the late 14th century (the cloud of unknowyng). The text was written by a mystic european monk to teach to a younger monk how to reach enlightment. The "cloud" represents the step that the monk has to take: to reach God you need to leave every certainty and embrace oblivion through an act of love.

    • @josharpe5802
      @josharpe5802 3 года назад +8

      The author was anonymous so it is unknown whether they were a monk.

    • @batbite_
      @batbite_ 2 года назад +8

      Cloud of Unknowing is a classic within apophatic theology en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophatic_theology Pseudo Dionysius the Areopagite is an essential character in this tradition of theology: According to Corrigan and Harrington, "Dionysius' central concern is how a triune God, ... who is utterly unknowable, unrestricted being, beyond individual substances, beyond even goodness, can become manifest to, in, and through the whole of creation in order to bring back all things to the hidden darkness of their source."

    • @batbite_
      @batbite_ 2 года назад +9

      Furthermore, I am I is the definition God gives to Moses as the the burning bush about what or who he is. A=A is also a central definition in Fichte and when in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit, spirit reaches the absolute it can finally with full honestly posit itself as self identical.

    • @charliemackin9620
      @charliemackin9620 Год назад

      This dude is trash. Ads.

    • @brandonharris9160
      @brandonharris9160 Год назад +6

      Yeah Gira has an interest in such works, he gave me personal recommendations and encouraged me to look into mysticism so this is very likely

  • @MortonGoldthwait
    @MortonGoldthwait 7 лет назад +150

    I want to legally marry that bass riff at the end.

  • @el_mal_de_ojo
    @el_mal_de_ojo 6 лет назад +195

    I find myself listening to this almost daily. The Glowing Man is an incredible album. When I first heard it, I knew it was amazing but I still found it to be below To Be Kind. However, it's grown on me so much over time. Whereas To Be Kind instantly captured me while still had plenty of room for discovery, The Glowing Man is so much more mysterious, and I feel it actually needs more time than previous albums to fully take it in.

    • @vinyldiary6664
      @vinyldiary6664 6 лет назад +9

      Well said! 👌

    • @slateman118
      @slateman118 4 года назад +15

      For me it was opposite. To Be Kind took me a few listens to get into whilst The Glowing Man got me instantly.

    • @saito2582
      @saito2582 4 года назад +1

      @@slateman118 Same

    • @martinharrison1504
      @martinharrison1504 4 года назад

      I agree. I didn't get these two 'cloud' tracks to start with but now finding them very deep.

    • @suffermore1576
      @suffermore1576 3 года назад

      @@slateman118 same

  • @FearMonarch
    @FearMonarch 5 лет назад +87

    Gira's little speech about physical media in the description is pretty beautiful ngl

    • @empresscarrie6230
      @empresscarrie6230 Год назад

      Yeah that's an incredible way to think. To imagine people used to lock their music behind iTunes

  • @childintime6453
    @childintime6453 2 года назад +44

    Listening to their albums feels like partaking in a ritual of some sort. It's like being in a church and being mesmerized by the sounds, words, smells and sublime images and architecture

  • @isabellamorris7902
    @isabellamorris7902 3 года назад +45

    I studied the original Cloud of Unknowing text at uni, years before I heard this. This pretty accurately sonically describes what it's like to read.

  • @spookyfoster
    @spookyfoster 3 года назад +33

    22:04 is that the fucking kitchen nightmares violin sound?!?!

  • @Sighbot
    @Sighbot 6 лет назад +151

    Listening to this makes me feel like I understand everything in the universe.

    • @el_mal_de_ojo
      @el_mal_de_ojo 6 лет назад +12

      not an incorrect assumption

    • @rabasandramaran
      @rabasandramaran 5 лет назад +15

      you know nothing

    • @Danielruido
      @Danielruido 5 лет назад +4

      Just as if you entered the cloud of unknowing the book talks about

    • @erlineandrews
      @erlineandrews 4 года назад +9

      Listening to this makes me feel I don't need to try to understand everything. This and the way it makes me feel are all that matters.

    • @hetornhetorn
      @hetornhetorn 4 года назад +5

      Listen to it in acid. You won't regret it.

  • @joem.8555
    @joem.8555 5 лет назад +120

    Oh my fucking god. This is one of the greatest songs ever made by anyone. I'm really high rn and just absolutely in awe. The fact that humans can make this is proof that our kind can go extremely beyond our current capabilities as a species. Just fugg, man.

    • @TheOceanBearer
      @TheOceanBearer 2 года назад +9

      Haha, listening to this under the effects of cannabis as well. My sentiments also. This album resonates with me in a personal way. Feels like a soundtrack to a very painful and rich story.

    • @burningbrokenbonds995
      @burningbrokenbonds995 2 года назад +1

      Nice pfp lol

    • @Cedrou21
      @Cedrou21 2 года назад +7

      Sober and still pretty much the same. Absolutely Epic

    • @hetornhetorn
      @hetornhetorn 2 года назад +7

      I listened to this on 300 ug in the woods with a friend and also with my brother some years ago and oh fuck, I felt I was Gandalf the Grey, it was so amazing and beautiful, those words fall short for what this song means to me.

    • @ioyom
      @ioyom Год назад

      yeahhhh sematary

  • @fricfrac
    @fricfrac 7 лет назад +70

    Hearing this live was pure insanity.

  • @qiyamat93
    @qiyamat93 6 лет назад +61

    This is why I listen to music, period

  • @st6ph6n28
    @st6ph6n28 3 года назад +27

    Cloud of Unknowing, by Swans.
    25+ minutes long.
    I was surprised to discover that it was written as a prayer. Here's the background for the song, the excerpt from which the name was taken (from a text by an unknown author from long ago):
    “For He can well be loved, but He cannot be thought. By love He can be grasped and held, but by thought, neither grasped nor held. And therefore, though it may be good at times to think specifically of the kindness and excellence of God, and though this may be a light and a part of contemplation, all the same, in the work of contemplation itself, it must be cast down and covered with a *cloud of forgetting* (name of first track on album). And you must step above it stoutly but deftly, with a devout and delightful stirring of love, and struggle to pierce that darkness above you; and beat on that thick *cloud of unknowing* (name of second track on album) with a sharp dart of longing love, and do not give up, whatever happens.”
    Raw, powerful music.

  • @YourTrustyHonkey9716
    @YourTrustyHonkey9716 5 лет назад +41

    This is easily my favorite swans song and really is the apex for their sound and what they have done musically i love it so much, changed how i listen to music

  • @toolfan298
    @toolfan298 7 лет назад +117

    Lol, "I hope it gives you some joy and pleasure."
    If only you really knew...

  • @libertheme66
    @libertheme66 2 года назад +14

    the drone behind the music in this is my favorite part of the entire song. I do not know why but whenever I hear it - chills.

  • @cringeybydefault4151
    @cringeybydefault4151 Год назад +10

    15:11 god damn I can’t get enough of this part

  • @stevenhines5550
    @stevenhines5550 9 месяцев назад +4

    This song live was overwhelming. I was hearing through my mouth. Ave ave

  • @lembogu6377
    @lembogu6377 7 лет назад +91

    14:34
    I live for this

    • @qiyamat93
      @qiyamat93 7 лет назад +35

      Those Swans moments that open up into infinity

    • @vinyldiary6664
      @vinyldiary6664 6 лет назад +15

      Killer! Beautiful!

  • @CorvusSynths
    @CorvusSynths 4 года назад +15

    This kept me in a hypnotic trance the whole time. These crazy mantras just sunk me into this deep swirling trance and I'm so grateful for the experience. Thank you, Swans!

  • @batmaneatspizza
    @batmaneatspizza 5 лет назад +18

    This is chilling as hell honestly

  • @TDXdz154
    @TDXdz154 6 лет назад +26

    Certain moments on the track are reminiscent of SFTB’s Animus

  • @franciscoalmeida9019
    @franciscoalmeida9019 7 лет назад +23

    The despair of being.I am,I am..

  • @NonceKillaz
    @NonceKillaz 4 года назад +17

    3:14 Ezekiel's vision of God in the sky.

  • @chadgrewal4829
    @chadgrewal4829 3 года назад +8

    Their absolute Best!!! Surpasses
    even The Seer

  • @leonardsimonis2376
    @leonardsimonis2376 3 года назад +9

    I think it is better than the Seer, Bring The Sun or The Glowing Man!

  • @iamcarpetpython
    @iamcarpetpython 3 года назад +21

    This track blows me away every time. It perfectly depicts a story arc of spiraling out of control and a descent into darkness or insanity.

    • @TamaCinema69
      @TamaCinema69 2 года назад +9

      I see it as an ascension or the path towards enlightenment, the bit at 14 minutes feels like opening up the doors to the heavens and going blind.

  • @dibs0equiped
    @dibs0equiped 5 лет назад +17

    Wow Swans wow

  • @fuenteovejuna2000
    @fuenteovejuna2000 3 года назад +15

    There is a book whit that name ",cloud of unknowing" ("la nube del no saber (y el libro de la orientacion particular)" (in spanish) an anonymous work of christian mysticism written in half of the 14th century, The underlying message of this work suggests that the way to know God is to abandon consideration of God's particular activities and attributes, and be courageous enough to surrender one's mind and ego to the realm of "unknowing", at which point one may begin to glimpse the nature of God.(from wikipedia), i have and read that book in my teen years i dont remember much, but its interesant . Excuse my english I dont write very well.

  • @dvasquez258
    @dvasquez258 4 года назад +6

    makes me feel like the world is on fire

  • @soonerorlater888
    @soonerorlater888 Год назад +3

    I've always imagined this track as an ancient mayan sacrifice.
    Idk why but it gives me that feeling.
    Like every single beat is one footstep going up the piramid, and that every one of the singing breakdowns is the chaman calling upon quetsalcoatl to eat the sacrifice's heart.
    And in the big breakdown the hole fucking piramyd is lifted up into the heavens and then there's a fucking meteorite shower that destroys the entire earth.

    • @dfkdb6249
      @dfkdb6249 10 месяцев назад +1

      Really cool visualization. I have a different one but yours is also insane

  • @dbvideos1590
    @dbvideos1590 3 года назад +5

    To me, he is singing about the creation of God.

  • @Pllayer064
    @Pllayer064 5 лет назад +14

    Underrated.

    • @martinharrison1504
      @martinharrison1504 4 года назад +1

      AAghhhhhh!! Someone had to write that! How can you say it's underrated when it's almost universally highly rated?!

  • @ferouihamza
    @ferouihamza 5 лет назад +6

    i love you too michael

  • @willy1957
    @willy1957 6 лет назад +11

    Phenomenal!

  • @jyhem007
    @jyhem007 6 лет назад +14

    Toujours aussi Humain ! quand on sait qu'ils ont influencé tant et tant de personnes et de groupes depuis toutes ces années ! Swans m'accompagnent dans ma peinture au même titre que : Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Jesu ( Justin Broadrick ), A Silver Mt. Zion . . . Merci à Michael Gira .

    • @Cheeseball786
      @Cheeseball786 4 года назад

      @@Gy0952 take it from someone who speaks it, it is not that elegant and sensual language and learning it is more trouble than it's worth

  • @alexswedock3911
    @alexswedock3911 5 лет назад +15

    9:40 yuh

  • @RSilva-ku3dn
    @RSilva-ku3dn 5 лет назад +7

    this bass at the end tho... the groove... fuck

  • @TestamentEnjoymentVGM
    @TestamentEnjoymentVGM 8 месяцев назад +3

    Music to read Blood Meridian to

    • @exmilsitary
      @exmilsitary 4 месяца назад +2

      If you haven’t read it already, I would recommend soundtracks for the blind or some GY!BE to compliment The Road.

  • @chadgrewal4829
    @chadgrewal4829 3 года назад +3

    Adddicted to this

  • @ringo164
    @ringo164 4 года назад +9

    listening in the forest

  • @cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245
    @cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245 5 лет назад +6

    Intro sounds like an intense F1 race

  • @AnomNOM
    @AnomNOM 6 лет назад +13

    if only you knew how bad things really are

  • @djsaeg
    @djsaeg 4 месяца назад +1

    into the deepness of dark

  • @adrianflores2921
    @adrianflores2921 3 года назад +12

    Doo Doo Doo Doo do do do do

  • @randomenbyuploads8925
    @randomenbyuploads8925 2 года назад +15

    Ok so pretty interesting story: the second time I got high I decided to make a playlist that had Dark Side of the Moon, The Mollusk by Ween, and The Glowing Man, I was in pure bliss as I was lying in bed listening to it, feeling things I had never felt before. Anyway I fell asleep during Ocean Man, and woke up at around 10:25 in Cloud of Unknowing. I legitimately felt like I had seen the face of fucking god or something

    • @abdullaalsaleh
      @abdullaalsaleh 2 года назад +1

      Do you still have the playlist? I'd love to give it a listen, it sounds cool.

    • @randomenbyuploads8925
      @randomenbyuploads8925 2 года назад +2

      @@abdullaalsaleh I deleted it but I think I remember everything. I’ll make it again and send it to you

    • @randomenbyuploads8925
      @randomenbyuploads8925 2 года назад +1

      @@abdullaalsaleh I may’ve left out a song or two at the beginning, but this is it. More or less ruclips.net/p/PLZbnO3-tQjmzU1993lYX0fR5h4OZUAeN7

    • @yellowkangdexasthur4904
      @yellowkangdexasthur4904 27 дней назад

      ​@@randomenbyuploads8925
      >Stars of the Lid
      Patrician taste, sir

  • @st6ph6n28
    @st6ph6n28 3 года назад +10

    Jesus Christ loves me, and that makes me feel fulfilled and whole in the deepest conceivable sense.
    Aside from that...
    Having just read the description...
    I've discovered that Michael Gira also loves me.
    And that's a different feeling.
    It makes me want to push over a mailbox and howl at a ladybug and carefully fist bump an ant.
    These are all excellent things.

  • @YourTrustyHonkey9716
    @YourTrustyHonkey9716 6 лет назад +9

    But what do the lyrics mean??? My I.Q. isnt fast enough pls help me!

    • @zachwillits8451
      @zachwillits8451 6 лет назад +25

      Look into the book "Cloud of Unknowing" it's a Christian guide to mystical prayer that Gira used as inspiration for this song.

    • @el_mal_de_ojo
      @el_mal_de_ojo 2 года назад +1

      Perhaps the search for meaning is, in itself, a fools errand. Perhaps meaninglessness is more valuable.

    • @erichferdinand9742
      @erichferdinand9742 Год назад +1

      'sit down, meditate and don't be evil'

    • @stevenhines5550
      @stevenhines5550 9 месяцев назад

      It's conscious awareness in eternity learning that eternity is in awareness

  • @guy_denning
    @guy_denning 5 лет назад +2

    Bury me to this. Fucking glorious.

  • @bobsbigboy_
    @bobsbigboy_ 4 года назад +1

    WOW

  • @dimitrijmaslov1209
    @dimitrijmaslov1209 3 года назад

    True Believer

  • @SuperLukas2001
    @SuperLukas2001 5 лет назад +12

    3:14 hysteria... just make you feel as you were in hell... awesome sensation

  • @johnfishbone1021
    @johnfishbone1021 4 года назад

    Grandeur

  • @Lemongriff
    @Lemongriff Месяц назад

    I love when he goes aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  • @Brian-sh5ne
    @Brian-sh5ne 4 года назад +9

    How dare you put an ad in this. Blasphemy!

    • @Brian-sh5ne
      @Brian-sh5ne 4 года назад

      ClandestineOstrich the algorithm is blasphemous

  • @Michael-Gira
    @Michael-Gira 2 месяца назад

    An ad in the song. Wtf.

  • @nun9496
    @nun9496 8 месяцев назад

    great

  • @salmanuddin7923
    @salmanuddin7923 4 года назад +1

    69th comment and holy shit this hits

  • @koukouvania
    @koukouvania 2 года назад

    piano from floyd's Echoes

  • @Nasasch
    @Nasasch 3 года назад

    This song could have been in fight club

  • @ckrissatina
    @ckrissatina 4 месяца назад

    Sam I Am

  • @bonnibagel3756
    @bonnibagel3756 6 лет назад +4

    FARK

  • @PolicemanPlanet
    @PolicemanPlanet 6 лет назад +9

    speed this up to x2 for one hell of an experience fam squad

    • @Gy0952
      @Gy0952 6 лет назад +5

      Actually remember me a part of She loves us when the drums and the bass start to kick in

    • @jasonday5143
      @jasonday5143 4 года назад +4

      more like
      one half of an experience.

  • @CyberBunStudio
    @CyberBunStudio 7 месяцев назад

    Mid roll advertisements during a SWANS song is blasphemy.

  • @UltimateCerberus
    @UltimateCerberus 3 года назад

    The World's End Girlfriend meets Birdman.

  • @deal8403
    @deal8403 8 месяцев назад +1

    I don't know why I like it
    But I like it!

  • @swans7618
    @swans7618 4 года назад +40

    this is the best thing ever made what the fuck

  • @DJW_
    @DJW_ 3 дня назад

    Can anyone please recommend me songs that sound like from 5:56 onwards? Holy fucking shit