YISHAI SWEARTZ (Tomorrow's Rain) And MONA MUR Announce 'Clouds Of War' LP To Be Released In June
The newest collaborative release between the founding member and the vocalist of Tomorrow's Rain and the cult Berlin-based singer/composer is coming out this June 20 via Soleilmoon Recordings.
Track-list:
1. By the morning, it started
2. Meet Again feat. Yossi Sassi
3. Clouds of War – Schmerz
4. Blink Of An Eye
5. Komm in mein Boot (Words & Music: Rammstein) – You’ll die at sea (Words: Latinos)
6. Orlowski feat. En Esch
7. Noch bist du da feat. Anja Huwe
(Words: Courtesy of Nachlass Rose Ausländer)
8. Animals in a cage
9. Moshe’s Song
10. Not welcome in the forest
11. Mama’s words
12. Piano Outro
13. Hiroshima Intro feat. Takeyama Ritsuko
Collaborative work by renowned musicians Yishai Sweartz (Tomorrow’s Rain) from Tel Aviv and Mona Mur from Berlin culminates in the creation of “Clouds Of War.” Inspired by the life and diary of Yishai Sweartz’s grandfather, WW2 Partisan Moshe Szniecki, this project intertwines evocative spoken word and captivating experimental arrangements.
Reflecting on the project's genesis, Yishai shares, “The idea for ‘Clouds Of War’ began with the profound stories recounted in my grandfather’s diary. During World War II, 17-year-old Moshe Szniecki left his hometown when all other members of his family were murdered by Nazi hordes. In the depths of the Belarusian forests, Moshe joined a Partisan group and fought boldly.” Guided by what he called ‘The Codes of the Woods,’ Moshe survived. “He made it to Israel, married, and had a family with his wife Hanna and two daughters. He died peacefully at 94, at ease with himself. He survived” - elaborates Yishai.
“The ‘Codes of the Woods’ were Moshe’s survival principle,” notes Yishai. In the summer of 2021, a creative synergy sparked between Mona Mur and Yishai Sweartz. “Simultaneously translated into English, these texts of great directness and stunning consequence were recorded on a smartphone and sent to Mona Mur in her Berlin studio KATANA. Mona used these recordings as core material, their rough quality and darkly intense attitude being an advantage.” Creating layers of other voices, Mona Mur incorporated her well-recognisable musical elements into the compositional structure on the record. Adding self-designed sounds, guitar-work and signature electronics.
"To me, music is a sacred art form. You can transmit and connect on a level of empathy. Violence, cruelty, greed, ego, hate, contempt, hostility dissolve for a fleeting moment that still might change things profoundly.” – explains Mona Mur reflecting on the conceptual side of the collaboration that lead to the release of ‘Clouds of War’. “What is the right look at the atrocities of war, holocaust, genocide ? Moshe Shnitzki, 17 years old, had to transform in a split second, in order to survive, from a pious teenage boy into a warrior. Fight back or die, head into the deep dark forest, leave a civilization that failed to rise up to its proper meaning. And survive. How does that feel, how does that sound ? This is what "Clouds of War" is about."
As the production developed further, singer Anja Huwe, known for her work with X-mal Deutschland, brought her distinctive voice and artistic insight to Moshe’s story in her musical solo album. “One beautiful spoken word piece of hers enlightens the pitch-black clouds cycle like a faint ray of spring in the darkest of times,” describes Yishai.
The resulting body of work, “Clouds Of War,” stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity. Renowned German art house director Elfi Mikesch prominently features “The Moshe Song” in her documentary movie ”War or Peace”(Filmgalerie 451, 2024). The album is coming out June 20 via Soleilmoon Recordings. Pre-order via Soleilmoon or on Bandcamp.
BIO:
Yishai Sweartz - Musician, performer and music promoter from Tel Aviv, Israel, vocalist of the bands “Tomorrow’s Rain” and “Nail Within“ and the avant-garde dark ambient project “Thy Mesmerized”. A frequent collaborator of a large number of artists including Mille Petrozza (Kreator), Attila Csihar(Mayhem), Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell), Gregor Mackintosh (Paradise Lost), Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate / King Diamond) and many others. Yishai has promoted hundreds of Rock and Metal shows in Israel for more than 25 years.
Mona Mur - Singer, musician, composer, producer, creates her unique world of high intensity,Rock ‘n’ Roll spirit, electronic atmospheres and orchestral walls of sound. Famous for her collaborations and live shows with the likes of FM Einheit (Einstürzende Neubauten), En Esch (KMFDM), Grzegorz Ciechowski (Republika), JJ Burnel (The Stranglers) as well as for her film music (“Last Exit: Space”) and video game soundtracks (“Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days”), she stands for a radical artistic approach to life and music. “The artist has to stick the finger right into the wound.”
