Strange Attractors Audio House Sean Smith : Huge Fluid Freedom (US,2011)****
Sean Smith expanded the acoustic guitar foundations to the area and level of the electric guitar with partly almost orchestral expansions of arrangements (especially on the first track). While the foundations here remain the acoustic guitar, in vision, it is a bit like returning to the electric worlds of rock music, using the open tunings and expansions envisioned and encountered with the acoustic foundations and then adding new layers, new and old ideas to it.
“I Know You Are Tired, But Come. This is the Way” starts with a electric drone provided by two guitars, in the vein of the Indian tampura, then a Middle Eastern contra-rhythm is added with melodic associations until an acoustic guitar takes over with a slow or sad melody, with cymbals and drones in the background, before another groovier development of female voices and baritone voices as with another new element appears, arranged in the background, the rhythm changes once more with more emotion to the voices, with peeping electric guitar and an ending with more repetitive rhythm on bass, drums, guitar and also Hammond organ. This reminds me of the expansions James Blackshaw once did with new arrangements, it shows Sean Smiths abilities to compose with the use of skilful creative changes within the composition and arrangements.
The second track, “The Real”, starts immediately with dual electric guitars and drums, more heavier rock in nature, before calming down to a slower, somewhat psychedelic jam, the second peeping guitar playing further with more emotion and with some melodic progression, this ends with the drum rhythm becoming more steady towards the conclusion.
“Ourselves When We Are Real” is an acoustic picking track, with an interesting picking melody which progresses in open tuning to something even more interesting. It shows Sean Smith best as a picking artist.
The last track, “Huge Fluid Freedom”, is based upon the picking mode too, electrified, distorted and with two guitars. After a while the drum and bass takes over with a rock rhythm and the guitar improvises within this area.
On this album we have Sean Smith on electric and acoustic guitars, bass, cymbals, toms, composition and arrangement, Spencer Owen on drums, Hammond organ, piano, arrangement assistance, Marc Dantona on bass, Meryl Press on vocals, Mandy Green on additional vocals and Josh Pollock on solo guitar on "The Real".
