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#ambient #folk #instrumental Tracklist: Study 00:00 Magpie 03:45 the Trellis 07:42 Cypresses 10:00 Winter 14:19 the Boulevard 18:17 21:54 Fields 24:49 at North Branch 25:47 30:41 ● ● ● ● ● Steven R. Smith is a wildly consistent and self-sufficient auteur making epic music far beyond his monk-like solo recording practices. On Olive, we get more of Steven R. Smith’s singular vision and musicianship, this time filtered through ensemble arrangements largely performed by others. A micro-orchestra of horn and woodwind players was enlisted, as well as other collaborators including Kate Wright (Movietone, 1000 Dawns) and Yvonne Sone. The stunning results call to mind Mark Hollis’ eponymous solo LP and Gerald Busby’s masterful 3 Women score, not only in terms of sonics or tone, but also in the use of space. Smith has explored many angles to soundtrack-like mood music, but there is a satisfying dark rock element to even his more refined chamber pieces. Smith’s dusky post-punk signature, borrowed from Australian artists such as Rowland S. Howard and Crime & the City Solution, synthesizes with the mannered arrangements to push his familiar, evocative sound into new spaces. released April 19, 2024 Steven R. Smith: guitar, bass, harmonium, etc. Kate Wright: piano, field recording (track 5) Yvonne Sone: vox organ (track 6) Lev Borovskiy: trombone Derek Crane: alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon Mateusz Pisulak: clarinet (track 10) João Sousa: trumpet Filippo Tramontana: french horn Tomas Urnikis: saxophone Woodwinds and horns written and arranged by Steven R. Smith Recorded october 2022 – march 2023 at worstward studios, los angeles. additional recording: glendale, california; salt lake city, utah; bristol, uk; birmingham, uk; pordenone, italy; porto, portugal; and various locations in poland and lithuania. thanks to Matt Jones for the piano assistance cover art by Dave Gardner mastered by Sean Mccann layout and design by Chris Berry #US #SoftAbuse #SAB110 #artrock #electroacoustic #experimental #meditation #minimal #psychedelic #relaxation #rock #sleepmusic #synth #atmospheric #soundscapes #electronic #FLAC #lossless
