The World of Skin was a music project springing out of the American group

Swans Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometim ...

, which was a collaboration between the core Swans members

Michael Gira Michael Rolfe Gira (; born February 19, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author and artist. He is the main force behind the New York City musical group Swans and fronted Angels of Light. He is also the founder of ...

and

Jarboe Jarboe Devereaux, known mononymously as Jarboe (), is an American singer and musician who came to prominence as a member of the New York City experimental rock band Swans in 1985. Jarboe and Michael Gira, the founder of Swans, were the two consta ...

. The project was initially called Skin, with the first two albums being released under that name, the last one being released under the name the World of Skin. In the UK, the first two albums were released by Product Inc., an imprint of

Mute Records Mute Records is a British independent record label owned and founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller. It has featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Einstürzende Neubauten, Fad Gadget, Goldfrapp, Grinderm ...

, while the last was released on Gira's own Young God label.

History

Swans' album ''

Greed Greed (or avarice) is an uncontrolled longing for increase in the acquisition or use of material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions); or social value, such as Social status, status, or Power (social and politica ...

'' began a trend toward greater use of melody, and this trend continued with the later '' Children of God''. The work performed as Skin was initially in marked contrast with the less overtly melodic but contemporaneous Swans work, but later Swans work integrated the two aspects. ''

Blood, Women, Roses ''Blood, Women, Roses'' is the debut Album#Studio album, studio album of The World of Skin, Skin, released in 1987 by Mute Records, Product Inc. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Blood, Women, Roses'' liner notes. ;Musicians * Gin ...

'' (1987) was the project's first release and featured vocals entirely by Jarboe, who had previously mainly been performing backing vocals. Many of the tracks on this album were covers of show tunes and other popular songs (for example "Cry Me a River" and "The Man I Love"). Many of the tracks still featured the monumental use of percussion that was common in earlier Swans work, but combined this with a greater use of melody ("Red Rose" is typical of this). ''Blood, Women, Roses'' was followed in 1988 by '' Shame, Humility, Revenge'', which featured vocals by Michael Gira (although Jarboe did perform some backing vocals). The first two albums were released only in Europe, but most of the albums’ tracks were combined in the US release ''

World of Skin The World of Skin was a music project springing out of the American group Swans, which was a collaboration between the core Swans members Michael Gira and Jarboe. The project was initially called Skin, with the first two albums being released unde ...

'' (released under the band name World of Skin), which was followed by the final World of Skin release, ''

Ten Songs for Another World ''Ten Songs for Another World'' is the third and final studio album by The World of Skin, released in 1990 by Young God Records. Accolades Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Ten Songs for Another World'' liner notes. ;Musician ...

''. This album featured vocals from both performers, including a cover of

Nick Drake Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter known for his acoustic guitar-based songs. He did not find a wide audience during his lifetime, but his work gradually achieved wider notice and recognit ...

's "Black-Eyed Dog" that was performed by Jarboe.

Group members

- vocals, guitar, keyboards, samples, sounds (1987-1990) *

- vocals, keyboards, sounds (1987-1990) *

Norman Westberg 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 ...

- guitar (1988) * Harry Crosby - bass (1988)

Discography

Studio releases

* ''

'' (1987) * '' Shame, Humility, Revenge'' (1988) * ''

'' (1990)

Compilations

* ''

The World of Skin The World of Skin was a music project springing out of the American group Swans, which was a collaboration between the core Swans members Michael Gira and Jarboe. The project was initially called Skin, with the first two albums being released und ...

'' (1988)

Singles

* ''Girl, Come Out'' 12" (1987) * ''One Thousand Years'' 12" (1987)

External links

www.swans.pair.comwww.younggodrecords.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:World of Skin Musical groups established in 1987 Musical groups disestablished in 1990 American experimental musical groups Swans (band) Mute Records artists