Browse by Artist: SMITH, STEVEN R.

Artist:	SMITH, STEVEN R.
Title:	Crown of Marches
Label:	CATSUP PLATE
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	CPR 722CD

"Steven R. Smith is best known for his participation in Thuja and Hala Strana as well as his contribution to many Jewelled Antler projects. In the spirit of Keiji Haino, Popol Vuh, Dead C, and Flying Saucer Attack, Crown of Marches takes the possibilities of the basement psychedelic guitar excursion and fashions something very new and inspiring -- a piece alternately beautiful and overwhelming. Crown of Marches begins with a low rumble of feedback and speaker hum; a lazy Eastern melody pokes through the haze and establishes a strong contrast with the rumbling. This is the basis upon which the piece will expand and contract over the next 40 minutes. At times the feedback rumble drops away and relatively bright guitar lines come to the fore. At other times faint keyboard lines or bowed cymbals add texture and additional gravitas to the proceedings, only to be pushed away with the wail of distant guitars and more distortion -- like the heaviest rock with the skeleton removed." Limited stock.

Artist:	SMITH, STEVEN R.
Title:	Owl
Label:	DIGITALIS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	ACE 007CD

"Steven R. Smith's name has become more commonplace over the last half-decade, and that's a very good thing. From his monumental works as Hala Strana to being a prominent contributor to many Jewelled Antler projects, his sound is distinct. This is the first brand new solo album from Steven R. Smith since last year's epic The Anchorite. On here, you'll find some of the things you expect with a new Steven R. Smith record: sparse, angular walls of his trademark guitar playing with embellishments from an array of acoustic instrumentation. But there's a new twist here: vocals. Yep, vocals. Smith unleashes his voice on Owl and does so in such an impressive fashion that it leaves one asking 'what took so long'? Owl is full of desolate but hopeful aural landscapes. There's a tinge of regret and longing in his voice when he belts out the words, 'this is the world we know...' And in those six words, Smith sums up what Owl brings to the table. There is something recognizable about this terrain; the paint is just worn down enough to expose the raw wood underneath. But carefully placed in each corner, in each nook is something new that breathes life into the familiar. This is a bold step for someone who has already accomplished a great deal, and leaves us listeners without a clue as to what will happen next. This is magic, indeed."

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