Chris Smith - Bad Orchestra LP

Like most key figures in the Antipodean noise scene, Chris Smith exists in the adventurous-musician nethersphere: hailed by followers, unknown to most. Though he has released a few solo albums, played in groups like The Golden Lifestyle Band and Library Punx, and co-released recordings with Peter Jefferies, his only release outside of his country was 2002’s Map Ends: 1995-2001 (Emperor Jones). Bad Orchestra is from 2007, and aside from a small CD run on Death Valley, didn’t get the opportunity to turn heads. Thankfully, Hermit Hut has taken on the mission of releasing vinyl of this impossible-to-find album. Bad Orchestra is Smith’s masterpiece, a maelstrom of expansive guitar abstractions, sound collage and full-out rocking. Recorded with a band, the album touches many tangents while converging as a glorious whole. Initially inspired, surprisingly enough, by The Germs, Smith creates music as a solution to his own inner turmoil. He captures an essential rawness on par with Jim Shepard.