{"title":"Soft Abuse","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"olive","title":"Olive","description":"\u003cp\u003eSteven R. Smith is a wildly consistent and self-sufficient auteur making epic music far beyond his monk-like solo recording practices. On Olive, one gets more of Steven R. Smith’s singular vision and musicianship, this time filtered through ensemble arrangement largely performed by others—an approach he’s explored in recent years. A micro-orchestra of horn and woodwind players was enlisted, as well as other collaborators including Kate Wright (Movietone, 1000 Dawns) and Yvonne Sone. The stunning results call to mind Mark Hollis’ eponymous solo LP and Gerald Busby’s masterful 3 Women score, not only in terms of sonics or tone, but also in the use of space. Smith has explored many angles to soundtrack-like mood music, but there is a satisfying dark rock element to even his more refined chamber pieces. Smith’s dusky post-punk signature, borrowed from Australian artists such as Rowland S. Howard and Crime \u0026amp; the City Solution, synthesizes with the mannered arrangements to push his familiar, evocative sound into new spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soft Abuse","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50412437504331,"sku":"2193944","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/getImage_78_d031326c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726667630"},{"product_id":"spring","title":"Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eLong into his varied, restless recording life, Steven R. Smith continues to deliver moments of wonder. Spring, like much of his very best, explores small notions that shift and expand to reveal a private sort of grandeur.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoining Smith on \u003ci\u003eSpring\u003c\/i\u003e is Gareth Davis, the Amsterdam-based bass clarinetist and occasional collaborator of Machinefabriek, Merzbow, Elliot Sharp and Smith himself, and his presence here is crucial. The restrained interplay between Smith (on guitar, piano, percussion etc.) and Davis create a warmth and intimacy akin to Mark Hollis' masterful eponymous solo LP.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSteven R. Smith has been a quiet force in underground psych\/post-punk circles since the mid-90s. In addtion to a handful of classic releases under his own name, Smith is perhaps better known for the material releases under various pseudonyms (e.g. Hala Strana, Ulaan Khol, Ulaan Markhor, etc.) or as a member of cult acts like Mirza and Thuja.\u003ci\u003e Spring\u003c\/i\u003e is the latest entry point into his own particular version of cinematic composition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soft Abuse","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50483614286155,"sku":"1153650","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/soft-abuse.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}