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Smoking the Century Away — Smoking the Century Away
(Smogless Sr 2017, 1997, CD)

by Mac Beaulieu, Published 2000-10-01

Smoking the Century Away Cover art

More like Smoking Some Afternoons Away in an Amsterdam Hash Bar. Mexican musicians Jorge Beltran and Victor Basurto from Loch Ness and Humus recorded this sonic exploration in Mexico City and Holland. Music for an altered head indeed, but not exclusively so. Perhaps inadequately described as an earthy, sometimes tribal mosaic, occasionally hijacked by early electronic explorers, it's ambient, low key, and primal — even synth-dominated sections sound primitive. Acoustic guitars figure prominently as do various percussion, basses, and synths, the latter three elements being used more for their tones than for structure. Additional textures are formed by programmed effects, flute, whistle, harmonica, sea shell, melodica, and everyone's favorite: the kiondocuba (I did a search for this using a number of engines getting one result: the Smoking the Century Away web site). Some of these instruments are only used for one or two tracks so there is variety in the sonic palette. Picking a series of tracks from the middle of the non-indexed, 38 minute disc: “Angoose” has a “tymp-like” drum softly pounding while various sounds are overlaid, including whistle, harmonica, rumbly bass, and sea sounds, amelodic like most of the disc. The drums stick around for “Darkzeuse,” more rhythmic and musical with a hint of a synth melody punctuated by what sounds like a Farfisa organ. “Firth of Forth” then briefly adds a refreshing, exotic melodica to the mix. The sparsely cool “Zoorph!”'s acoustic guitars and fretless bass wipes are contrasted by “Ollin”'s strange juxtaposition of synth noises, a “ship's horn,” and a lonely harmonica from the sea. Music to drift to, each song is like another wave that guides you slowly out there. Strongly recommended to fans of Shania Twain.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 20, 1997 releases

Related artist(s): Smoking the Century Away

 

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