Search - Doug Smith :: Labyrinth

Consistently lovely and rich

David J. Loftus | Portland, OR USA | 03/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As with _Order of Magnitude_, this is a decade-old release (1992) from American Gramaphone that the Acoustic Music Resource is to be congratulated for reissuing in 2000. _Labyrinth_ opens with a very pleasant cut, "Sunday Sonata," which was composed at the request of Chip Davis for his 1991 _Sunday Morning Coffee_ collection. There, Smith did it solo; here, the happy theme is backed by light percussion, drums, keyboard, violin, and synthesizer."When the Walls Fell" is the album's show piece, with rich, thoughtful opening chords that pick up energy, falter, try to recover, ponder ... then are shoved into the urgent main theme by the drummer. During the break, the band drops away to leave Smith picking furiously in a high-speed train rhythm. Darol Anger's violin makes a pleading guest appearance late in the game.By contrast, "Shadowcasting" is a good-natured, medium bounce with congas, maracas, and wood sticks supporting the guitar. Other listeners may be drawn to "Blueskies Mt. Hood," a refreshing piece with the flute swooping and flying; the peppy, feisty solo "Hammerhead"; or "Evening Prayer," a pretty and pensive theme to which producer John Archer added the subtle vocal harmonies (and an impossibly high solo soprano) of the Higher Gospel Praise Singers of Omaha.Archer has added two cuts from the fine but out-of-print _Deep Heart_ album: the title tune, which is a lightly Romantic classical piece whose theme might have come from Chopin or Debussy; and the energized "Two Handed Paradox," with its grumbling 6/8 switching to a Celtic reel in 9/8 and back again.There is no such thing as a bad Doug Smith piece: some are "merely" good, others are better. All are whole pieces of work, none could be designated a throwaway. (I'm also impressed by the care and accuracy with which Smith names his compositions.)It's nearly impossible to rate one Smith album over another. Like his individual compositions, they strike me as remarkably consistent. I may like this cut more than that one, but as a whole, the albums come in fairly even for me. So if you like one, you'll like them all."

A good release from an acoustic master

Sir Bowen | Houston, TX USA | 09/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Labyrinth" is a solid disk that features the excellent playing of Doug Smith.It's not as compelling as his "Order of Magnitude" album, in that the compositions are not as inspired. It does, however, have its own uplifting moments, and Smith's sheer talent in performance shines throughout."