The Angels of Light
The Angels of Light (sometimes referred to as simply Angels of Light) is a … Read Full Bio ↴The Angels of Light (sometimes referred to as simply Angels of Light) is a musical entity formed in 1997 by singer Michael Gira after he disbanded Swans, the group he'd founded in 1982. The band has marked a distinctly different style for Gira since he left Swans, most noticeably being musically more melodic and less brutal than his previous efforts, though no less emotionally draining.

The Angels of Light include many New York City collaborators, including Dana Schechter of Bee and Flower, Kid Congo Powers of The Cramps, Larry Mullins aka Toby Dammit, Bliss Blood of The Moonlighters and Pain Teens, Thor Harris of Shearwater, and most recently the Brooklyn band Akron/Family.

Gira talks about the Angels project :

I write the songs on acoustic guitar, then gather musicians and friends, and build up the orchestrations with them in the studio and in live performances. I guide the process, but solicit their creative contributions actively. Each recording contains the contributions of an ever-changing plethora of amazing musicians, whom I thank here heartily!

After many years (too many to comfortably contemplate!) of dwelling on "sonic overload" with Swans, I now concentrate on augmenting the songs I write with orchestrations that support the basic song, rather than the sound itself taking over.

My goal is to achieve the same sense of magic I experienced as a child listening to Burle Ives recordings of Brer Rabbit and other such marvels, including the early Disney children's records I listened to long ago.

I view the arrangements as little films created to make a context for the words and voice, so that one can drift off into the world the music creates. I produce the Angels recordings, and the production of the recordings is as important to me as the songs themselves.

Most of the instruments used in the recordings are acoustic, but not all. Electric guitars, bass and drums etc., are sometimes used (as well as an occasional electronic sound, or loop), but I intentionally steer clear of a "Rock" sound. It doesn't interest me at all any more.

However, I have no particular fealty to "The Song" as if it were some sacred codex. On the other hand, just sitting around my house, writing these things, and finally coming up with a statement that I think makes sense, I want to bring them to life as much as possible, in new and challenging ways for both myself and you, so I always strive to present them in a fresh and interesting context.

For this reason, I'm always changing the sonic approach from record to record.

All The Angels of Light albums have been released on Michael Gira's label Young God Records.

The name The Angels of Light was first used by the spiritual theater group founded by drag queen Hibiscus of The Cockettes. It is not known whether Gira's group was named in homage to Hibiscus's similarly metaphysically-minded group.
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The Angels of Light Lyrics


All Souls' Rising The cull of foreign bone Marrow sucked beneath the flower t…
Angels Of Light And you're lazy So there's nothing that can stop you now Fro…
Black River Song Black River runs, beneath this ground Black River flows for…
Come for My Woman Come into this kitchen Come into my home The door it is…
Destroyer Here she comes dressed in white Her mouth is filled with…
Evangeline There's a silver stream Laid across the sky And the city l…
Forever Yours Rise from the river rise up in your Grave rise up in…
His Entropic Highness The drunken man is a stupid, self-deluded fallacy. Now fuck…
How We End As the black snake crawls Through your eyeholes As the col…
Inner Female I'm very sorry to see though your eyes In you I've…
Jennifer Jennifer's sorry she was misunderstood Yes her mind can do …
Jennifer's Sorry Jennifer's sorry she was misunderstood Yes her mind can do a…
Joseph's Song He writes these words on your skin You turn your head…


Kosinski When the light shows Through your window I can see you the…
Michael's White Hands We came up from the sea Then we lay in the…
Mother/Father Mother/Father Hey hey, Now mother father Hey hey Now…
My Brother's Man Yeah i am My brother’s man Yeah I am My brother’s man A…
My Sister Said Why sister said keep movin' child If nothing will move I'll…
My Suicide Cut the eyes out of my head tear my tongue out…
My True Body Now I am your mute cousin, Young shaved virgin whore, On my…
Nations Don't cry no more He's coming here His voice contains nati…
New City in the Future Here, here it is, The place where you lived. The place where…
New Mother Remove my hand from your pocket Pluck my eye from your…
New York City In The Future Here, here it is, The place where you lived. The place where…
New York Girls New York Girls, Scattered crimson pearls. You touch me like …
Not Alone In separate sections, the bodies fall. The leaves are purpl…
On The Mountain Let the wind wear away Words cut into stone Let it clear…
Palisades Crossing the field that leads to the cliff Crossing yoursel…
Praise Your Name Where are you wounded girls With bruised faces and blackene…
Promise Of Water Now they live in your head and they travel your…
Public Embarassment Blues Bring your silver arrows, Bring your tender and scented whit…
Public Embarrasment Blues Bring your silver arrows, Bring your tender and scented whi…
Public Embarrassment Blues Bring your silver arrows, Bring your tender and scented whit…
Real Person Yes I I'm addicted guilt and I will destroy your life i…
Shame Mother I'm sorry For the disease I inject in you Into …
Simon Is Stronger Than Us Simon is stronger than us Focused and painting when exhauste…
Sometimes I Dream I'm Hurting You Violence Violence Is in these bones Is in these lungs …
Song for My Father When the warm wind blows Through the corridors and tiled wa…
Song for Nico One, two, three, four There lies a strange joy in my…
Sunflower's Here To Stay Sunflower, Child of the Hour Goat-Man, Please Come! Liquid…
Sunset Park She brings some She'll bring some She brings one She'll b…
The Man We Left Behind One, two three Two, three, four Send my regards to The …
The Man With The Silver Tongue The man with the silver tongue is cutting off my silver…
The Visitor < Your man's here beside you His arms they surround you …
This Is Mine Now, I I despise The reflection of my face In your blue e…
Two Women I, I wrote a poem on your porcelain white back and you,…
Untitled Love Song Free from your past Free of your future too There's nothing …
We Are Him Let him in, Let him in, Let him in, Let…
Wedding Come, child, here to sleep Dirt, steel, teeth in your sleep…
What Will Come The windows are broken And the dust lies on the floor A…
What You Were Were you asleep in the chair As the sound cracked in…