Album Description"With Smith?s music, the sounds are as compelling as his concepts and instruments." ? THE WIRE Chas Smith is one of the most unique musicians working today! In the spirit of Harry Partch, Smith has created his own musical world ? complete with its own instruments and "language". Critics, in their praise of Smith?s work, have repeatedly compared his sonically overpowering compositions to those of Ligeti. With Descent, Smith continues to create the great, clangorous textures that have fed the popularity of his earlier Cold Blue releases. "Smith has?an ear and a love for magnificent sonorities...he integrates them into sumptuous compositions that range from delicate, lyrical vignettes to grating, sometimes horrific tone poems." ? SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN "Chas Smith?musician, composer, engineer, metal craftsman and inventor, is a classic American original." ? NEW TIMES(Los Angeles)