Simplicities that stimulate.

18 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Progressive Rock, POP: Quirky



Details:
Life in Jackson is a major theme of this second Woodpecker Street release by Steve Smith of the Assemblers, sometimes refracted through other notable views of the world like the Merode Altarpiece by Robert Campin ("House Assembles"), The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch ("My Dark Master"), and the Enneads of Plotinus ("Lose the Thread"). The style ranges from bopping guitar pop (âBold New City Pipesâ) to honking synth pop (âLick My Lipsâ) to moodier pieces (âDreamtown") to progressive keyboard rock instrumental (âThe Rhubarb Pathâ) to a Gershwin-meets-Satie solo piano reverie (âAmsterdam Notebookâ). Not only that, there's a neat picture inside of the back of the King Edward Hotel before its promised restoration.

The last track, a rudely taped improv, is named "Playing Doctor" for the DR-770 "Dr. Rhythm" featured in several tunes on this album, and the process of composing with it; but here the drum machine isn't the DR-770, it's the ancient TR-505.