The Stargazer’s Assistant – Mirrors & Tides, Shivers & Voids (Album – Zoharum)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, ritual, martial, dark-ambient, cinematographic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: David J. Smith (still involved with Guapo) has already been busy since 2007 with his Stargazer’s Assistant project, but he didn’t release new material on a regular basis. This work, which was originally released on vinyl format in 2013 on Utech Records has been now re-released on Zoharum on CD format.
Content: The six original songs have been divided into two chapters. I don’t really notice the difference between both parts, but it was clearly conceived for the original vinyl format featuring 3 tracks on the A-side and 3 other tracks on the B-side. Sound wise this work sounds like it is in constant motion, bringing different influences together. It can be ambient and experimental at the beginning track, moving towards a mystic sphere on the next cut while becoming pretty apocalyptic on another song while the last passages are mixing ethereal inspired vocals together with martial rhythms and ritual elements.
+ + + : There’s not a lot of cohesion between the tracks, but everyone will find a few noticeable ones. I enjoyed the more mystic- and ethereal inspired “Shivers & Voids”, but there’s also something to say about the progression running through the opening song and the visual strength running through “Night Soil”.
– – – : I already pointed out the lack of cohesion between the tracks, which creates the sensation of listening to a compilation.
Conclusion: If you’re open-minded and you like music genres such as experimental-, ritual-, dark-ambient & cinematographic music, this work is something for you. One thing is for sure, there’re a few cool ideas running through it.
Best songs: “Shivers & Voids”, “Night Soil”.
Rate: (6½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/Guapo–The–Stargazers–Assistant-779648508760042
Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum
About The Stargazer’s Assistant
The Stargazer’s Assistant is the solo project of musician David J. Smith, also a member of the group Guapo. Active under the name since 2007, Smith released “Shivers And Voids” on Utech Records in 2008, later expanded into “Mirrors & Tides, Shivers & Voids”, reissued by Zoharum on CD. Further Stargazer’s Assistant releases have included “Remoteness Of Light” (2016) and “Resurgam I, Resurgam II” (2018), followed by “Agneya” and “Fire Worshipper” on House Of Mythology in 2023 and “Modular Fields” in 2025.
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