Desolate singer-songwriterisms, low (for the genre) female voice accompanied by guitar. Fairly spartan, open arrangements that nevertheless produce claustrophobia—sorta reminds me of Jandek's “White Box Requiem”, though the guitar playing is much better (or at least much more obviously the product of someone who knows how to play a guitar conventionally). The lyrics are generally high quality, and depressing. Reference points (aside from Jandek, which may not be that apt—I've only heard the one album): Kath Bloom w/ Loren MazzaCane Connors, Richard Youngs ca. May. Songs generally establish and then stick to a holding pattern.
Apparently Smithson's worked with Sunn O)))--would never have guessed!
FCC clean.
Best: 1, 3, 8.
1.Excellent guitar part, nice dissonance. Upbeat-sounding words clash pleasantly with the hopeless delivery and accompaniment. Unstudied-sounding singing.
2.Accordion backing the guitar here. Faster-paced picking, vocal melody slow. Multi-tracked vocals.
3.Very spare; elec. guitar in background.
4.The guitar here even sounds like it could go with a happy song. This isn't one, though does have effective multitracked vocals and self-harmonizing.
5.Prominent elec. guitar, occasional distorted stabs.
6.Similar to 1, less interesting guitar part.
7.Probably the least unhappy-sounding of the songs, and most Kath Bloom-like.
8.Higher-pitched vocals, fragile sounding. More ornate arrangement here—more than two instruments! Bassy synth swells; this track is really good.
9.Somehow the vocals seem forefronted here more than on the other tracks. Confessional.