Smithereens by Tea Tree

Mindspring Music Presents: Tea Tree - Smithereens [MSM131]

A whimsical journey through the deep and limitless recesses of curiosity and intrigue, Smithereens gently beckons us to step into a thick and luscious audio garden, teeming with psychedelic flora and fauna.

Just as comfortable sharing his mind and heart with us through his psybreaks project Kwah or his collaborative project Alterra Project, Rory Gordziejko takes on the form of Tea Tree for this release. Offered up this time is an interconnected labyrinth of 7 groovy psydub adventures that will certainly get your head bobbing and toes tapping.

Marking Tea Tree's third release on Mindspring, Rory guides us through another expertly-crafted, trippy psydub adventure. A perfect follow-up to 2017's well-respected label debut EP Leguminous [MSM047] and 2020's Chasm [MSM084], we once again have the pleasure of traversing a new path within the familiar and groovy sonic universe he has created.

At times, Smithereens is lucid, playful, and determined, and at times the soundscapes feel more like waltzing between a daze and a daydream. Never staying in one place for too long, the album progresses into a delightfully spirited, glitchy adventure through complex layers of experimental sounds and grooves. There also seems to be a bit of mischief strewn about if you know where to look for it.

This release truly is a work of auditory art that presents new sounds with each listen. Though each track is a unique psychedelic treat in its own right, found throughout the entire album is the consistent and familiar style and finesse that we have come to expect from Tea Tree. He guides us again through intricate layers of crisp, pristine production and careful attention to spectral detail. The deep, thumpy low-end throughout is rich and fertile soil from which the anthesis of intricate, diverse sounds and expansive textures emerge. Carried through to florescence by uplifting, exuberant melodies, Smithereens blooms into a beautiful psychedelic masterpiece.

Always left with the feeling of a warm welcome back, the conclusion of the adventure gently ushers us back into our default world with a fresh, positive and uplifted perspective.