Steven R. Smith – “Year of the Trees”

There’s never been a lack of love for Steven R. Smith around here. From the long lost Jewelled Antler days through solo works and the many phases of the Ulaan universe, the songwriter has a long lens to his works. The latest proves there’s still more surprises in store. An album largely contained the the guitar and the piano, though other embellishments keep the songs swimming along briskly, the record is something singular in Smith’s catalog. Not as cinematic as he’s been in recent turns as Ulaan Janthina, Ulaan Passerine, Ulaan Markhor, or Ulaan Khol, but certainly something akin to their well crafted folk textures. “Year of the Trees” is stark, somber; an instrumental that’s at home under the canopy of clouds, but it travels with a certain sweetness behind the strums and plaintive keys. I’d wager I’ll never stop being enamored with Smith’s work and Half Light Unfolding already seems like a jewel in his extensive catalog. The new album is out September 4th from Eiderdown.

Support the artist. Buy it HERE.