Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore - They Came Like Swallows (2026)
I hear the intention, and it’s serious enough to hold for a while. The atmosphere is convincing, and the textures are strong enough that it feels physical, not just abstract. It has weight, and that’s what keeps it from completely collapsing.
But it doesn’t actually go anywhere. It just sustains itself. The pieces grow and shift, but they never develop into something with direction or consequence. I keep waiting for a moment where everything converges into a real payoff, and it never happens.
The improvisational nature becomes a problem over time. It feels more like material being explored than something being built. Without a clear trajectory, the emotional weight starts to flatten instead of intensify.
In the end, it stays at the level of intention. It’s serious, but not constructed enough to turn that seriousness into impact.
Strong timbral presence → the textures (guitar, strings, drones) feel physical and immersive
Clear aesthetic direction → the collaboration creates a recognizable experimental language
Cons
No real sense of direction → pieces expand but don’t move toward a defined outcome
Lack of payoff moments → tension accumulates without ever resolving into something impactful
Structure weakened by improvisation → ideas feel assembled rather than composed, reducing coherence
Genre: Experimental Rock
Country: US
Final Verdict: 56% (Forgettable Album)
Yearly Ranking: 350th / 359
Highlight: Urn Burial
Made me think of:
John Zorn
Tim Hecker
Swans
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