The Stargazer’s Assistant – Remoteness Of Light- Album Review

Release: 26 August 2016

If you look at the track list below, you might be a little confused with the number of songs. Yes, it has three tracks, but what tracks they are! The album itself is just under 60 minutes, with all three containing about 20 minutes of music. There are no three minute pop songs, instead you get worlds to explore. This is the work of  David J. Smith and on this album he is joined by David Knight and Michael York. This is an instrumental album with an unconventional approach, with a variety of samples, percussion and treated guitar sounds, along an array of other instruments.

The opening song Agents of Altitude opens with wind chimes gently sounding before they are joined by a flute. It is a slow start and one typical of the album. There is a steady momentum to the songs, they change over time and become quite different without you ever really noticing their progression. The flute and chimes are replaced by an eastern sounding pipe, possibly a snake charmer’s pipe or punji, which is layered with some ominous sounding guitar, keys and vocals, all evenly layered so the sound builds without any one being dominant. The other tracks follow a similar form, building over time and dismantling, instruments introduced and others moved to the sidelines.

There is an eastern flavour to the proceedings, with the choice of instrument being quite unconventional. It would be fascinating to learn about the recordings and how they produced each unique sound. This is an album to listen to with headphones, to get lost in their world, immersed in their vision and to enjoy!

Track List:

Agents Of Altitude
World Of Amphibia
Remoteness Of Light

David J. Smith (Guapo, Cyclobe) Percussion and sampled atmospheres
David J. Knight (Shock Headed Peters, UnicaZürn) Treated guitars and FX
Michael J. York (Coil, Cyclobe) Pipes, FX and field recordings