I by Ulaan Khol, released on Soft Abuse in 2008.

Zebra wrote on Sputnik Music:

Review Summary: Steven R. Smith has done it again under another moniker.

Although Steven R. Smith has been releasing solo albums since 1995 it wasn’t until 2008 when he decided to release his first album under the pseudonym “Ulaan Khol.” You may be more familiar with Mr. Smith since he has released music under other monikers such as Hala Strana, Mirza, and Thuja. Being a fan of Smiths other projects “I” is yet another notable album that showcases Smiths talent of throwing multiples genre into a blender and coming out with an eclectic, hypnotic sound.

“I” consists of nine untitled instrumental pieces ranging from about three to seven minutes in length. One unique aspect of this album is the hazy, slightly distorted production...

https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/26043/Ulaan-Khol-I/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlFhoTriDI4

#UlaanKhol #StevenRSmith #Drone #Psychdelia #Music

These Villages by Hala Strana, released on Soft Abuse in 2004.

Smekermann wrote on Bandcamp:

New listeners should be aware that this album is a lot more drone-oriented than previous Hala Strana albums. Having said that, the first four songs on this are among the best Hala Strana songs ever written, imho. It does veer into some pretty hardcore, buzzing drone on Fear of the Land, but then that gives way to Nepdal Tarogaton, which is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, so it all works out in the end. I’d say that’s par for the album - it mixes oppressive drone with gorgeous folk passages. Favorite track: The Great Season.

https://worstward.bandcamp.com/album/these-villages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xir5sj-qw88&list=PL4x1Z2tFcEmtennvd5RJ1tQS1pyxI6gxQ&index=1

#HalaStrana #StevenRSmith #Drone #FreakFolk #Folk #Ambient #Music

Ended the week and welcomed the weekend with Hills by Thuja, released on Jewelled Antler in 2001.

"'Hills' is a startling document, a collective of eviscerated dream tones and cavernous psychoacoustics. The unforced, luxuriant development of Thuja's music - a misty fold of keyboard drones, tinkling piano, clusters of percussives, shuttling and scrabbling strings and other things - often asks for metaphor from the natural world."

https://rosehobart.bandcamp.com/merch/thuja-hills-lp

#Thuja #JewelledAntler #GlennDonaldson #GregBianchini #LorenChasse #RobReger #StevenRSmith #Ambient #FreakFolk #Music #Drone

The Deer Lay Down Their Bones by Thuja, released in 1999 on tUMULt.

Thuja are a quartet based out of San Francisco. They play improvisational music and mostly lay down live takes, no processing. Glenn Donaldson and Stephen Smith were former members of psychedelicists Mirza, sound collagist Loren Chasse has worked with Id Battery, and pianist Rob Reger provides the most distinctive element of the band's sound-- his piano lines add a slight sense of structure to the instrumental meanderings. Thuja don't write songs, per se. Rather, their albums flow together like field recordings of poltergeists romping through abandoned factories. It's intense, sometimes dissonant music, but often highly rewarding. - Emperor Jones

https://www.emperorjones.com/thuja.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27AUWJ9qjA&list=RDh27AUWJ9qjA&start_radio=1

#Thuja #GlennDonaldson #GregBianchini #LorenChasse #RobReger #StevenRSmith #Drone #Ambient #FreakFolk #Music

Fielding by Hala Strana, released on Jewelled Antler in 2003.

Hala Strana (translated from the Old Bulgarian which mean "salted shore") is the name of a recording project of American musician Steven R. Smith. Smith began recording under the name in 2002 as an outlet which allowed him to explore the traditional music of Eastern Europe more fully than possible with his solo work. Although numerous musicians have contributed to the project, including Glenn Donaldson, Loren Chasse, and Darren Ankenman, most Hala Strana recordings are solo productions. His recordings have included such diverse instruments as hurdy-gurdy, bouzouki, harmonium, spike fiddles, bulbul tarang, the optigan keyboard, xaphoon, and field recordings. - Wikipedia

https://worstward.bandcamp.com/album/fielding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0r_76GsP8k&list=OLAK5uy_mYbTMG64QBZO_n4yUWmqOsTfktS_de1gs&index=1

#HalaStrana #StevenRSmith #EasternEuropeanMusic #Ambient #FolkMusic #Music

Hala Strana by Hala Strana, released on Emperor Jones in 2003.

Hala Strana (translated from the Old Bulgarian which mean "salted shore") is the name of a recording project of American musician Steven R. Smith. Smith began recording under the name in 2002 as an outlet which allowed him to explore the traditional music of Eastern Europe more fully than possible with his solo work. Although numerous musicians have contributed to the project, including Glenn Donaldson, Loren Chasse, and Darren Ankenman, most Hala Strana recordings are solo productions. His recordings have included such diverse instruments as hurdy-gurdy, bouzouki, harmonium, spike fiddles, bulbul tarang, the optigan keyboard, xaphoon, and field recordings... - Wikipedia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0OZDA9WJHI&list=PLWaEcrD10ihAEqAm3_dBK3m96xW2pfcw4&index=1

#HalaStrana #StevenRSmith #EasternEuropeanMusic #Music #FolkMusic #Ambient #Music