Glorious!
J. R. P. Wigman | Netherlands | 06/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've cherished Sweet Smoke's music for years - in fact, to me the music on this cd is desert island stuff. It has always amazed me that this group is so little known - little can be found in pop encyclopedias, even the older ones. And why is this? These guys produce some stunning music, an amalgam of rock, jazz, songer-songwriter stuff, and, yes, lyrics & a visual style that with some reason can be called dated.
This cd consists of their first 2 albums. "Just a poke", with its stunning cover, features 2 songs only: superb jazz-rock workouts with stunning guitar, saxophone & drum solos. "Baby night" has lyrics which seem to be based on the Doors' "Soft parade". The album "Darkness to light" offers more: well-crafted shorter songs stand alongside the jazz-rock workouts "Kundalini" and the title song, which should in itself be enough reason to buy this cd: it has several great "movements" that follow each other smoothly, in another display of craftsmanship. A pity these guys didn't record more (apart from their live album, which is not as good as the two albums featured here).
Yes, the lyrics, the album covers, the beards, the oriental overtones and the outfits all are out of date. But don't be put off by that - there's glorious music in there!
"
Sweet Smoke - 'Just A Poke / Darkness To Light' (EMI)
Mike Reed | USA | 02/03/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Vaguely even remember this '70's progressive / jazzy art rock band. A should-have 2-lp's-on-one CD reissue, that is if you're a fan of old progressive. Two albums from Sweet Smoke, 'Just A Poke' ('70) and 'Darkness To Light' ('73). Tracks I was somewhat most impressed with were the sixteen-minute "Baby Night", "Just Another Empty Dream" and the intricately played second lp title cut "Darkness To Light". Line-up: Marvin Kaminowitz-guitar&vocals, Michael Paris-sax,percussion&vocals, Steve Rosenstein-rhythm guitar, Andrew Dershin-bass and Jay Dorfman-drums. Might possibly appeal to fans of King Crimson, Floyd's 'Dark Side' era, The Move and Edgar Broughton."
