“
Maybe its fair to say that it is a contemplative body of work; definately one for the balcony with a book and a glass of something nice. Perfect for the coming months. Find it.
“
Maybe its fair to say that it is a contemplative body of work; definately one for the balcony with a book and a glass of something nice. Perfect for the coming months. Find it.
The first thing to note is the brilliant cover. Essentially a simple, rustic affair with Mr Smith’s portait picked out in gold and sienna on a natural background. Marvellous. The second thing to note is the utterly beguiling nature of this album. I do suggest you take note of my observation right away, because this collection of acoustic guitar instrumentals has a very unostentatious manner and, if you’re not careful, the music might pass you by unawares. Which would be a crying shame, because it’s lovely stuff.
The opening track, Silver Ships on Plasmic Oceans sets a languid tone; indeed, one could say that this track does conjour up images of galleons gliding stealthily into port. “Ride the Bus to the Library” by contrast, is more of a homespun, folky affair, the bus in question splashing through pot holes in the road. It reminds me of that Barret quote when, during the recording of “Barrett” he exhorted his bemused fellow musicians to “play to make it sound like it’s a Tuesday”. The music feels like it’s a Tuesday afternoon piece (Oh stop it Foster, you’re becoming tiresome).
Other favourites are Someone Somewhere has Sensed that I’m a Frightened Man and I Can’t Wait For Winter. “Someone..” is hesitant in its beginning, a very basic, junior guitar school strummed chord progression dominates the opening minute or so, before slowly unwinding into a scurrying, rather paranoid confessional acoustic work out. I Can’t Wait for Winter is charm itself, an understated low registered melody that can just be picked out amongst the gossamer-like web that Smith creates.
I don’t want to describe this lp any more now, because I’d like to listen to the rest of it without thinking about having to describe it to you lot. It’s such an enjoyable listen. Hope you don’t mind.
But I can’t leave a review dangling in the air, so I’ll say one further thing about “Sean Smith”. I predict here and now that I’ll be listening to this cd all summer. Not that I’m hyping it or anything. It’s not going to grab you and shake you around, it’s not that sort of album.
Maybe its fair to say that it is a contemplative body of work; definately one for the balcony with a book and a glass of something nice. Perfect for the coming months. Find it.
Words: Richard Foster