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Songs From the Burnt Earth
Stephen Kent
Recorded & Produced by Stephen Kent
San Francisco Bay Area, 1991.
Stephen Kent – Didjeridu, Percussion
John Loose – Harmonic Singing, Shaker
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Review - Robert Phoenix, Emusic
Songs From The Burnt Earth still remains as the only purely solo didjeridu CD from Stephen Kent. It was recorded in caves in and around La Honda (near Woodside) and in old military tunnels in Fort Funston—in essence natural acoustic environments.
There’s something to be said for a recording of this nature in that occurs in the interface between man and nature, outside of a traditional recording studio. In that regard, Kent is much closer to the aboriginal style of playing in the open spaces of the world, versus his more contemporary forays in technologically enhanced spaces.
These are powerful recordings that invoke the Earth itself as a musical partner. This is really evident on tracks like, “Honey Cave” and “From The Root.” Without the sheen that surrounds some of Kent’s other work, especially that of his collaborations with Simon Tassano, the power of the didge is unabridged and naked to the ear.
“The Quickening” is a bonus track that appeared on a compilation comprised by the ethno/industrial duo of Temps Perdue?
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Songs From the Burnt Earth - the inside story
Stephen Kent. Didjeridu Solos [Family Tree 1991].
Having arrived in the SF Bay Area after a tour in the US and Canada with LIAFC I stayed on due to the unintended kindness of US Immigration officials – or perhaps they meant to give me a 3 year work permit…. – I determined to delve deep into my roots with a series of solo recordings made in natural caves and very un-natural military fortifications on the SF coast.
I took my didjes into the woods south of San Francisco and, in the fog, with a DAT machine on my own and plugged into nature. Then later I went into Fort Funston military tunnels with John Loose and put the rest of it together. It was a meditation on minimalism and looking at nature as the mirror. TO date my only solo Didjeridu recording, though I am working on changing that right now!
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