Sweet Smoke
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1967-69) - Andrew Dershin
-- bass
line up 12 (1969-70) - Andrew Dershin
-- bass Victor Sacco)
line up 3 (1970-73) - Andrew Dershin -- bass NEW
- Jeffrey Dersin -- keyboards, vocals - Rochus Kuhn --
violin, cello
supporting musicians: (1973) - Puppa Kuhn -- flute - Marty Rosenburg -- percussion - Peter von de Locht -- sax
line 3 (1973-74) NEW - John Classi -- percussion, sound effects - Andrew Dershin
-- bass - Rick Greenberg (aka Rick Rasa) - rhythm guitar, sitar - Rochus Kuhn --
violin, cello NEW
- Martin Rosenberg -- tambourra,
percussion
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- The Chasers (andrew Dershin) - The Madabouts (Jay Dorfman and Marvin Kaminowitz) - The Sunday Funnies (Mike Paris)
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Genre: rock Rating: 2 stars ** Title: Darkness To Light Company: Harvest Catalog: 1C
062-29 471 Country/State: Brooklyn, New York Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: German pressing; gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1177 Price: $25.00
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Frequently thought of as being a German outfit, Sweet Smoke were actually formed in Brooklyn, New York and relocated to West Germany in the late 1960s.
Originally known as Sweet Smoke of the Happy Plant Pipeful, the band came together in 1967, featuring members of The Chasers (Andrew Dershin), The Madabouts (Jay Dorfman and Marvin Kaminowitz), and The Sunday Funnies (Mike Paris). By 1968 the group had begun enjoy a bit of success on the New York City club circuit. With Dorfman, Kaminowitz, and Paris quitting college; the band (now known as Sweet Smoke), relocating to the US Virgin Islands were they served as house band at a local club. Within a year the group decided to relocate to Europe. originally interested in setting up shop in Amsterdam, their plans were upset by border guards who apparently did not see the need for another group of penniless musicians to set up shop in the Netherlands. West Germany became their fallback base of operations.
Setting up a small commune, the band began playing local clubs and festivals, eventually attracting the attention of EMI Records, which signed them to a contract in 1970.
full gatefold sleeve
After an extended trip to India, the band returned to the recording studio in 1973. Recorded in Holland, musically the band's sophomore album, "Darkness To Light" reflected some significant changes from their debut. Produced by John G. Moring, this time out the songs were shorter, though they again featured an occasionally jarring mixture of avant garde, jazz, progressive, rock, west coast jams, and Eastern influences (occasionally mixed all together into one big aural stew). Thematically and lyrically songs like 'Just an Empty Dream', 'Kundalini' and the title track all reflected the band's recent experiences traveling to and living in India. Yes, having American-born singers made the album easier on domestic ears (though it's doubtful that more than a handful of Americans ever heard the band). While American audiences were clueless, the collection had a distinctive hippy vibe that clearly hit a sweet spot with mid-'70s European audiences, though the results haven't aged all that well. Not exactly your standard Krautrock album, but easy enough to see why the band got dumped into the genre.
"Sweet
Smoke" track listing: 1.) Just an Empty Dream - 4:20 'Just
an Empty Dream' started the album out with a very
pretty and engaging ballad that highlighted the band's more melodic
side. The tune would have been even better without Puppa
Kuhn's irritating
flute accompaniment.
rating: *** stars Not
sure why, but' I'd
Rather Burn than Disappear' has always reminded me a bit of early
Pink Floyd with a side order of Dudgeons and Dragons inspired
lyrics. Certainly meant to be deep and
thought-provoking. It really wasn't. rating:
*** stars I looked up the title and found the following description: "indwelling spiritual energy that can be awakened in order to purify the subtle system and ultimately to bestow the state of Yoga, or Divine Union upon the 'seeker' of truth". The title and inspiration are better understood when you learn that between the release of their first and second albums the band undertook a road trip from West Germany to India where they spent a year living in an Ashram and working a refugee camps. (What self-respecting band didn't make a similar pilgrimage ?) Now, I have no problem with the concept and these guys were clearly fully devoted to the cause, but let me warn you the first half of this 13 minute plus track sounded like a bunch of Hare Krishnas celebrating a successful airport fund raising expedition. One spin was more than enough for my ears. Luckily, the second half of the tune found the band delving into some Santana-styled rock and more jazz-rock oriented directions. It wasn't great, but certainly improved on the initial part of the song. rating: ** stars
(side
2) If
anyone doubted these guys were American, the country-tinged 'Believe Me My
Friends' should have quickly cleared up the confusion. Bad
Grateful Dead trying to do Poco ? Who know.
rating: ** stars Yes,
there was actually a decent pop melody here, but the combination of
largely out-of-tune vocals, discordant horns, and a needless jam ending left
a nasty after taste. rating:
** stars Exemplified by the chanting opening and the touchy-feely lyrics (which occasionally recalled a bad George Harrison solo effort), the title track was clearly inspired by their Indian trip. The good news was that 'Darkness to Light' avoided much of the pretense that sunk 'Kundalin'. Some tasty lead guitar, a breezy melody and some sweet vocals all added up to make the closer surprisingly enjoyable. rating: *** stars
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