steven r. smith chapbooks

i just received the latest chapbook from one of my favorite artists, steven r. smith. most know him from his great solo albums, his magical hala strana project, and his work in the jewelled antler centerpiece, thuja. his two recent chapbooks, "these villages" (which is a beautiful accompaniment to the hala strana album of the same name) and the newest, "the scale of conjunction" are beautiful. smith's words joined with his always impressive woodcuts create an impressive whole. what i find most interesting though is his prose. all of steven's great music is instrumental. he is one of the most talented artists i know that can say so much without words. his music speaks for him in angular tones and obscured melodies. but in "the scale of conjunction" we get to read some of his words... and, as would be expected, he writes as well as he composes. the imagery he creates is fantastic... at times disturbing, at others beautiful. my favorite passage is "a sun enshrouded by moths / fluttering in a constant reversal / of inmost and out." wonderful.

these chapbooks are definitely something for fans of hala strana and his other projects. especially those who want to get even more out of "these villages" (which seems impossible, i know...).

visit: http://www.worstward.com/