Smith & Mudd get picked up by library music legends KPM. The duo’s Tea With Holger was originally part of the decade-spanning institution`s digital-only Album Shorts series. It now gets a vinyl pressing care of Be With Records – who’ve been cherry-picking their way through KPM`s collectable catalogue.
The pair recorded the album in tribute to time spent working with Holger Czukay and his partner, Ursa Major – both now sadly deceased. Tapping into the their collaboration as Bison, the awe they felt jamming at the Can-founder`s Inner Space Studio. The music is appropriately kosmische, particularly in Smith`s Manuel Gottsching-esque guitar. Choirboy harmonies lend a shoegaze-y feel to the opening Gardener, and the closing title track. The violin of Mike Piggot and the cello of Sam Croer helping to create miniature symphonies. Homages to both epic 70s rock and 60s psychedelic folk. Reverbed hand drums and muted electronics accompanying strummed acoustics and Peter Green blues.
Pianos come in big bottom-end chords and gentle concentric ripples. Recalling in places the light-hearted chamber music fusions of the Penguin Cafe / Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Echoing the similarly timeless releases of fellow library music lovers Warren Hampshire and Greg Foat.
You can order a vinyl copy of Smith & Mudd`s Tea With Holger directly from Be With Records.
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