REVIEW: ROGER SMITH - GREEN WOOD

 

ROGER SMITH - GREEN WOOD (Emanem Disc, 2002)

Produced by Martin Davidson

Recorded by Roger Smith assisted by Ian Vickers

Cover by Marion Franses

Tracks: 1- Wood Green Waltz; 2- North 22 (no Catch); 3- Forward Fast; 4- Extended Ploy; 5- Strange Interlude; 6- Waltz with heating; 7- An Extract; 8- Diminuendo & Crescendo in Green; 9- Saul´s Beret Rode; 10- Local Twang; 11- The Last of the Season; 12- Arse Myth

We have reviewed Roger Smith´s music before in the recordings where he plays with the Spontaneous Music Orchestra. This time we have the chance of listening to a more melodic side of this great musician and guitar player. First of all we see that the music here is really quiet and melodic and that is due to the fact that Smith has recorded this CD at home and he plays during the night hours. This is interesting because we can see a more subtle side of his musical personality. Here we can listen how Smith constructs his guitar lines while armonizing them ...and he has played through all this recording with his finger in order to achieve a warmer sound very different than the one that one can achieve using a pick. There is heavy use of natural harmonics in tracks like "Extended Ploy" and the most amazing thing here is that all this material is improvised. Thumbs up for this amazing musician and innovative guitar player.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD. I love Smith´s guitar playing. Is experimental and at the same time very melodic

Contact: www.emanemdisc.com