AMG Review of Children of God/World of Skin

Ned Raggett
All Music Guide

This re-release, fully remastered by Gira, was especially crucial for Swans' fan base, since Children had long fallen out of print worldwide, with often-times absurd prices being asked for by sellers lucky enough to have a few remaining. The package collects that album along with the contents of the American-only compilation of the first two Skin albums by Gira and Jarboe. This means that two tracks from the first Skin album, "Come Out" and "The Man I Love," still have not been re-released. Only the one new track "I'll Swallow You" surfaces here, originally appearing on the B-side of the "New Mind" single. Starting with a slow arrangement and low Gira vocal, the song then shifts to a shouting chorus of voices before becoming a quick, drum-heavy track with a lead Jarboe vocal instead. It's a unique, interesting bonus for those completists who already have the original discs that make up this collection.