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Olive

by Steven R. Smith

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes digital pre-order of Olive. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    shipping out on or around April 19, 2024

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Pre-order of Olive. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    Purchasable with gift card
    releases April 19, 2024

      $8 USD  or more

     

1.
Marshland Study
2.
The Magpie
3.
On the Trellis
4.
With Cypresses
5.
Passing Winter
6.
Across the Boulevard
7.
Olive 02:55
8.
Parlor Fields
9.
Trees at North Branch
10.
Roadmenders

about

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.

credits

releases April 19, 2024

steven r. smith: guitar, bass, harmonium, etc.
kate wright: piano, field recording (track 5)
yvonne sone: vox organ (track 6)

with:
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

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Steven R. Smith Los Angeles, California

Steven R. Smith is the mind of Hala Strana, Ulaan Khol, Ulaan Passerine, Ulaan Markhor (& so many more), but also makes music under his given name. Active since the mid-90s, Smith has recorded a staggering totem of work, and every release is as good as the next. ... more

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