The Third Eye
A beautiful mix of electronic soundscapes that take unexpected twists and turns and will leave you a bit disoriented, maybe entranced, but hooked on the world that LFZ has created.
Favorite track: View From Here.
florianfricke
I've known LFZ for quite some time now (we've taken several sonic adventures together)l and let me tell you this is LFZ firing on all cylinders. The growth evident on this recording lies predominantly in the compositions. These aren't just interesting or beautiful sounds, they are laid out in a manner that take me on a journey whose twists and turns make me feel contrasting emotions. That is powerful music.
Favorite track: Extinction Burst.
Raveled Veiled Known, an album of monumental synthesizer focused extravagancies, finds LFZ at an apex of fluidity and prowess. The album deals with concepts of growth, change, the depth of the unknown, and how we organize our understanding and interpretation of these. The cover, hand embroidered artwork by Smith, depicts mixed esoteric imagery derived from Astrology, Tarot, Numerology, Sigil Magick, and the pioneer plaque. The album is released by Big Sur’s Gnome Life Records and is LFZ’s fourth full length album -the first in five years. However, it is inaccurate to say that it is his only new music in that time. LFZ has released several EP’s in the past years, but this is a grand gesture.
Raveled Veiled Known was created over a long expanse of time, in many locations, by various means of recording, but primarily came to be in the months leading up to and following the birth of Smith’s daughter. “The transition into fatherhood is a mysterious simultaneous journey into and from darkness and light. It is disorienting and grounding. Unmooring and solidifying. The sense of self becomes fractured and yet, more clear than ever.” His music making began to reflect similar dialectics. Smith had reached a level of self awareness and rote technique within the LFZ realm, but as he carved out familiar foundations he would often find himself in chaotic or profoundly abstract storms of improvisation. “At any given step of the process I could be in complete control or have a sense of channelling.”
The first and last pieces on the album have become staples in LFZ live sets. Both are extended durations providing Smith an expanse to weave his tale into. The LP’s opener, “Extinction Burst,” a characterization of the psyche’s potential to utterly resist change, is a complex reworking and elaboration of the once simplistic cycle of arpeggiating synthesizer, "Naturalistic," found on 2018’s, "Name Plus Focus." Now performed on bass, synth and bass pedals, it continues to evolve with every live iteration. The album’s closer, “Naturally, I Found it Within,” ponders the tortured treks outward one can venture for the sake of expansion and realization just to ultimately return to the self. It incorporates free improv, tight composition, nearly industrial motifs, and ambient passages along its 16 minute path.
“View From Here” -an exquisite result of cassette recording experimentations improvised in one night- represents themes of being trapped inside the boundless prison of one’s solitary perspective and the peace and madness that can coexist. And finally, the shortest song on the album, "Waiting For Esmé," was written and recorded whilst being overcome with anticipation in the week leading up to the date of Smith’s daughter's birth. A traditional song composition -a rarity within the LFZ oeuvre.
credits
released March 22, 2024
Music, performance, recording, mixing, and artwork by Sean Smith.
Released by Gnome Life Records.
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supported by 4 fans who also own “Raveled Veiled Known”
Pharoah's long forgotten masterpiece. This record could have been lost, but it just got resurrected, and seriously, this is probably one of Sanders top 2 or 3 albums. Those who discovered Pharoah with Promises, might prefer this to Karma. The first track, Harvest Time is a gem and both live takes on this double CD are compelling variations of the studio version, maybe even more exciting! Alex Deschênes