The World of Skin
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Swans |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Michael Gira, Jarboe |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | www |
The World of Skin originated as a musical endeavor derived from the American ensemble Swans, involving a partnership between principal members Michael Gira and Jarboe. Initially operating under the name Skin, the project released its first two albums with this title, while the concluding album was issued under The World of Skin. In the United Kingdom, Product Inc., a subdivision of Mute Records, handled the distribution of the initial two albums, whereas the final record was released through Gira's independent label, Young God.
History
The album Greed by Swans represented a transition toward more melodic compositions, a direction that was further developed in Children of God. The early output from Skin diverged from Swans’ traditionally less melodic approach but eventually contributed to the band's adoption of these melodic influences.
Released in 1987, Blood, Women, Roses marked the debut of the project, with Jarboe taking on lead vocal duties after primarily providing backing vocals in previous works. This album included numerous renditions of classic show tunes and standards such as "Cry Me a River" and "The Man I Love." It fused Swans' characteristic intense percussion with more pronounced melodic features, as demonstrated by tracks like "Red Rose."
The subsequent album, Shame, Humility, Revenge (1988), showcased Michael Gira as lead vocalist while Jarboe contributed backing vocals. Both albums were initially available only in Europe; however, most songs were later assembled into the US release World of Skin, issued under the name World of Skin. The project’s final album, Ten Songs for Another World (1990), featured vocal performances by both Gira and Jarboe and included a cover version of Nick Drake's "Black-Eyed Dog," sung by Jarboe.
Group members
- Michael Gira – vocals, guitar, keyboards, samples (1987–1990)
- Jarboe – vocals, keyboards (1987–1990)
- Norman Westberg – guitar (1988)
- Harry Crosby – bass (1988)
Studio albums
- Blood, Women, Roses (1987)
- Shame, Humility, Revenge (1988)
- Ten Songs for Another World (1990)
Compilations
- The World of Skin (1988)
Singles
- Girl, Come Out 12" (1987)
- One Thousand Years 12" (1987)