Hubbry Logo
A ScrewA ScrewMain
Open search
A Screw
Community hub
A Screw
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
A Screw
A Screw
A Screw
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
"A Screw"
A dollar sign with a yellow and dark red striped infill surrounded by a black outline on a yellow and dark red striped background.
Single by Swans
Released2 May 1986 (1986-05-02)
GenreIndustrial
Length15:02
LabelK.422
ProducerMichael Gira
Swans singles chronology
"Holy Money"
(1986) 		"A Screw"
(1986) 		"Public Castration Is a Good Idea"
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[1]

A Screw is a single by the New York City experimental rock group Swans. The single's three songs were later appended as bonus tracks to the CD release of Holy Money.

Background and composition

[edit]

The single's title track sees the band diving their farthest into the realm of industrial dance music, complete with dubby, distorted vocals and complex programmed rhythms, a distinct contrast to the naturalistic album version.[1] The piano-driven ode to obsessive love, "Blackmail", was Jarboe's first Swans track as lead vocalist.[1] A reworked version of "Blackmail" appears on the 1987 album Children of God.[2]

Regarding his contribution to the single's title track, drummer Ted Parsons said:

"But you know the first recording I did with Swans, was "A Screw" on Holy Money? I get in there – I can’t remember what the studio was – and Michael Gira the singer said, "Well, you know what? There’s no drum kit here, we just want to set a snare drum up in the hallway and have you hit it." And I was like, "What? OK." So they set the snare up in this big hallway down this corridor, and I hit the drum, and that was it. They sampled it, and he said, "OK, that’s great, go home." That was it. That was "A Screw.""[3]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."A Screw"5:40
2."Blackmail"4:42
3."A Screw (Holy Money)" (Mix)4:58
Total length:15:20

Notes

  • Track 1 and 3 were mislabeled on most original releases. Later issues like the "Greed/Holy Money" compilation corrected this.[4]

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Indie Chart[5] 4

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

A Screw

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
A screw is a and mechanical fastener characterized by a cylindrical shaft featuring a continuous helical , known as a thread, wrapped around its exterior, which enables the conversion of rotational motion into or force when is applied. This design functions as an coiled around a central axis, providing by multiplying applied force over distance, making it essential for applications ranging from fastening materials to actuating precise movements in machinery. The origins of the screw trace back to ancient civilizations, with the screw first appearing in during the Neo-Assyrian period (911–609 BCE) in applications such as water-lifting devices, though the concept of screw threads is often attributed to the Greek philosopher around 400 BCE. Early uses included wooden screws in presses for olives and grapes by the 1st century BCE in the Mediterranean region, evolving into metal versions by the for more durable applications in and . The screw's development as a mass-producible accelerated during the , with key innovations like Jesse Ramsden's screw-cutting in 1770 enabling precise threading and standardization efforts by figures such as in the 1840s, which established uniform thread profiles for . In modern engineering, screws serve diverse roles beyond basic fastening, including as power screws in lead mechanisms for linear actuators in devices like vises, , and CNC machines, where they transmit high loads with minimal backlash. Variations such as machine screws, wood screws, and self-tapping screws adapt to specific materials and loads, while advancements in materials like high-strength alloys and coatings enhance resistance and efficiency in industries from to automotive . The screw's versatility underscores its status as one of the six classical simple machines, alongside the , , , , and , fundamentally shaping mechanical design and assembly processes worldwide.

Overview and production

Background

Swans emerged from New York's no-wave scene in the early 1980s, initially defined by abrasive, repetitive noise rock that rejected conventional musical structures in favor of intense sonic assault. Founded by Michael Gira in 1982, the band's debut album Filth (1983) and subsequent releases like Cop (1984) and the Young God EP (1984) epitomized this phase, characterized by pounding rhythms, distorted guitars, and Gira's guttural vocals exploring themes of power and degradation. By 1985, Gira sought to evolve Swans' sound beyond pure noise, introducing elements of rhythm, melody, and industrial textures influenced by the era's experimental music landscape. This shift was evident in the Time Is Money (Bastard) EP and Greed album (both 1986), where Gira deliberately incorporated hypnotic grooves and sparse arrangements, marking a departure from the unrelenting volume of earlier works toward a more structured aggression. These experiments directly informed the Holy Money sessions, laying the groundwork for further sonic diversification. Jarboe's arrival as a full member in 1986 represented a pivotal addition, bringing keyboards, vocals, and a nuanced emotional depth to the lineup; her debut contributions appeared on the A Screw single, signaling the band's growing complexity. Released in 1986 via the UK-based K.422 label, A Screw emerged from the same recording sessions as Holy Money, continuing the blend of industrial percussion and emerging melodic undercurrents.

Composition and recording

"A Screw" exemplifies with dub influences, characterized by programmed rhythms and repetitive structures that create a , groove-oriented . This marked a shift for Swans, introducing beat-driven tracks that contrasted sharply with the band's earlier atonal noise explorations on albums like Filth and Cop. The use of tape loops and minimal instrumentation further emphasized this evolution, layering sparse elements to build tension and propulsion. The tracks were recorded at different studios: "A Screw" at Intergalactic Studios in in September 1985, and "Blackmail" at SOHO Studios in in April 1986, coinciding with the production of the album , where served as the primary producer. Specific techniques included dubby vocal effects on the title track, enhancing its echoing, disorienting atmosphere, alongside snare drum contributions from , whose isolated snare hits were sampled and looped throughout the piece. The EP also features the remix version "A Screw (Holy Money)," which refines the original's industrial pulse into a more streamlined mix. contributed vocals to "Blackmail," adding a haunting layer to the track. The total runtime of the single is 15:02, encapsulating its concise yet immersive exploration of rhythmic .

Musical content

Track listing

"A Screw" was released as a 12-inch vinyl single on May 2, 1986, by Swans on the K.422 label, configured with one track on Side A played at 45 RPM and two tracks on Side B played at , where the Side B tracks are partially mixed together.
SideTrackDurationNotes
A"A Screw (Holy Money)"5:41Recorded at Intergalactic Studios, NYC, September 1985; a mix version also featured on the album
B1"Blackmail"4:54Recorded at SOHO Studios, London, April 1986; music by Jarboe and Michael Gira, featuring Rico Conning
B2"A Screw"5:00Original mix recorded at Intergalactic Studios, NYC, September 1985
The single includes the original mix of "A Screw" alongside a remix titled "A Screw (Holy Money)", distinguishing it from the album version on .

Personnel

Michael Gira served as the lead vocalist, producer, and primary instrumentalist on "A Screw," handling vocals, sampling, piano, and additional sounds across the single's tracks. Jarboe contributed vocals specifically to the B-side track "Blackmail," co-writing its music alongside Gira. Ted Parsons provided drums, including prominent snare work, on several recordings featured in the single. The production was led solely by , with no additional engineers credited for the core tracks, though Rico Conning engineered "" at SOHO Studios in . The lineup drew from the recording sessions, emphasizing a sparse ensemble. Instrumentation centered on a minimal configuration, incorporating guitars played by , bass from Algis Kizys on "A Screw ()," conventional drums, and electronic elements via Gira's sampling and tape operations.

Release and commercial performance

Release history

"A Screw" was initially released in 1986 as a 12-inch vinyl single through the K.422 label in the UK and PVC Records in the . The release was available exclusively in vinyl format at launch, featuring a partially mixed 12" record played at 45 RPM and 33 ⅓ RPM. The tracks from "A Screw" were subsequently included as bonus material on the original CD edition of Swans' album Holy Money, issued in 1986, and later appeared on the 1986 cassette compilation Time Is Money (Bastard) / A Screw. A reworked version of the B-side "Blackmail" was featured on the band's 1987 album Children of God. No major standalone reissues of the single occurred after 1986, though its contents were incorporated into Swans' early catalog remasters during the 2010s, notably the 2015 remastered double-CD compilation Cop/Young God · Greed/Holy Money released by Young God Records. Distribution of "A Screw" was confined to independent music circuits, closely aligned with Swans' 1986 and European tour promoting Greed and Holy Money, where the title track was frequently performed live.

Charts

"A Screw" peaked at number 4 on the UK Independent Singles Chart in 1986. The single did not achieve entries on mainstream charts, such as the UK Singles Chart or the Hot 100. This performance reflects the modest indie success typical of Swans' niche audience during the period. The release was tied to the promotion of the album, contributing to its visibility within the indie scene.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Upon its release in , "A Screw" received praise from contemporary critics for introducing rhythmic innovation to the industrial genre, marking a departure from Swans' earlier noise-dominated sound. included the title track in its Tracks of the Year list at number 30, recognizing its bold incorporation of dub-like elements and driving beats as a significant evolution. The single has been noted for its artistic elements, including Jarboe's vocals on "Blackmail" and the remixed version of "A Screw." In retrospective analyses, "A Screw" has been viewed as a pivotal bridge to Swans' later melodic , documenting the band's ongoing transformation into a more complex entity. The single also features prominently in oral histories, such as Nick Soulsby's 2017 book Sacrifice and Transcendence: The Oral History of Swans, where discusses the production challenges of venturing into industrial dance influences for tracks like "A Screw."

Cultural impact

The release of "A Screw" signified a pivotal shift in Swans' discography toward rhythmic and industrialized elements, exemplified by its repetitive, hypnotic beats and electronic percussion that diverged from the band's earlier noise-dominated sound. This transition directly shaped the companion album Holy Money (1986), where a remixed version titled "A Screw (Holy Money)" integrated brass sections and up-tempo grooves, bridging the "dollar trilogy" of releases from that year. The single's emphasis on propulsion and structure contributed to the broader evolution seen in subsequent releases during Swans' 1986-1987 period. Beyond Swans' trajectory, "A Screw" advanced the evolution of by blending aggression with proto-techno rhythms and danceable motifs, elements Jarboe attributed to her push for club-oriented production during the recording sessions. The track's integration of Jarboe's vocals on the B-side "" underscored her emerging role in , facilitating a collaborative dynamic that enriched their experimental output and was later analyzed in band histories for its impact on genre boundaries. In terms of legacy, "A Screw" has been referenced in and industrial compilations, such as the 1992 Greed/Holy Money collection, which repackaged it alongside related EPs to highlight its transitional role in . While no major covers exist, remixes—including the vocal and instrumental variants from —have been revisited in 2020s retrospectives. As of January 2025, a Glide Magazine article highlighted a 1986 live performance of "A Screw," underscoring its enduring influence on perceptions of Swans' heaviness. Culturally, the single appears in niche playlists curating 1980s NYC experimental scenes and features in documentaries like Where Does a Body End? (2019), which explores the band's roots and enduring influence on underground communities.

References

  1. https://engineeringstatics.org/Chapter_09-screw-friction.html
  2. https://fiveable.me/key-terms/honors-physics/screw
  3. https://www.livescience.com/49106-simple-machines.html
  4. https://www.teachengineering.org/populartopics/view/simplemachines
  5. https://www.univiti.it/en/approfondimenti/product-information/fasteners-from-ancient-times-to-the-present
  6. https://www.usmicroscrew.com/2016/10/03/a-brief-history-of-screws/
  7. https://asg-jergens.com/history-of-threaded-fastening-part-1-fasteners/
  8. https://fractory.com/lead-screws/
  9. http://mechanicsmap.psu.edu/websites/7_friction/7-4_screws/screws.html
  10. https://monroeengineering.com/blog/what-is-a-machine-screw/
  11. https://brooklynrail.org/2007/02/music/addicted-to-sound/
  12. https://www.scaruffi.com/vol4/swans.html
  13. https://www.discogs.com/release/2459417-Swans-A-Screw
  14. https://www.self-titledmag.com/jarboe-on-her-work-with-swans-and-world-of-skin-plus-a-new-helen-money-project-and-secret-oculus-rift-game/
  15. https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=44151
  16. https://genius.com/albums/Swans/A-screw-ep
  17. https://www.discogs.com/release/388700-Swans-A-Screw
  18. https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/01/ted-parsons-interview/
  19. http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/ted-parsons-2019/
  20. https://swans.bandcamp.com/album/holy-money-a-screw
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/1564026-Swans-Holy-Money
  22. https://www.discogs.com/master/8798-Swans-Holy-Money
  23. https://www.discogs.com/master/8792-Swans-A-Screw
  24. https://www.discogs.com/release/11407602-Swans-CopYoung-God-GreedHoly-Money
  25. https://www.discogs.com/master/8901-Swans-CopYoung-God-GreedHoly-Money
  26. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1986/Music-Week-1986-09-27.pdf
  27. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24945/swans/
  28. https://www.nme.com/features/1986-2-1045387
  29. https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-screw-mw0001087800
  30. https://dokumen.pub/swans-sacrifice-and-transcendence-the-oral-history-1911036394-9781911036395.html
  31. https://oneweekoneband.tumblr.com/post/78656513699/a-screw-holy-money-from-holy-money-this
  32. https://www.brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24654:swans-qcopyoung-godgreedholy-moneyq&catid=101&Itemid=855
  33. https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2020/10/29/swans-children-of-god/
  34. https://glidemagazine.com/309266/manic-monday-swans-were-truly-heavy-ahead-of-its-time-a-screw-live-1986/
  35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L14vklp_uQs
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.