Ireland's darkest jewel JMI (The Journal of Music in Ireland), Vol. 8 No. 1, Jan-Feb 2008
considerable gifts as an improvisor ... a genuinely cathartic listening experience ... such fuck-you intensity The Wire
Paul G. Smyth's 'Descenders' was a true example of the art of improvisation, using the most contemporary musical resources to produce something concentrated, absorbing and energizing JMI (The Journal of Music in Ireland), Vol. 7 No. 1, Jan-Feb 2007
Smyth is the kind of talent that deserves every encouragement Derek Bailey
... somewhere between classic noir and H.P. Lovecraft Brainwashed.com
"... unforgettable ... an extraordinary blossoming ... Clarinets, pianos and strings billow out over 54 sublime minutes of what is their best work yet." ****
The Ticket / Irish Times
"A rich and spectacular comeback album, this is The Jimmy Cake’s crowning achievement." ****
Sunday Business Post
"This record is simply a work of extreme orchestral splendour." ****
Sunday Tribune
"It'd take at least 5 years to produce something as accomplished and inventive as this!" ****1/2
Hot Press
"An indelible chronicle of nine musicians contributing to a singular and necessary vision" State
"... it has been worth the wait, as Spectre & Crown is easily their finest work to date. From the opening piano chord of Red Tony, to the final note of Last Breath, The Jimmy Cake hardly put a foot wrong." Totally Dublin
"Spectre & Crown is The Jimmy Cake's most arresting album to date." Sunday Times
"By turns minimalistic and multi-layered, Spectre & Crown has moments of astonishing beauty. There are plenty of captivating tracks too - soaring and emotive." ****
Day & Night / Irish Independent
"... one of the most coherent, beautiful albums of the year so far." entertainment.ie
"I cannot convey how enjoyable Spectre & Crown is." brainwashed.com
"The album is a moving, sweepingly beautiful, orchestral epic with nine life-enhancing tracks of such diversity and scope that it’s hard to fathom that just nine people made it.
... few records will reach the heights that this royally brilliant piece of work reaches. An instant and longterm classic." Westmeath Examiner
Paul G. Smyth (b.1976) is a musician, artist and designer, based in Dublin. A member of 9-piece band The Jimmy Cake (described by the Irish Times as "the most powerful musical force in Ireland"), Smyth is also Ireland's foremost free-improvising pianist. After studying fine-art painting in the National College of Art + Design, Smyth toured with New York free-jazz veteran Charles Gayle, and since then has played with such luminaries as Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Keiji Haino, Barry Guy, John Russell, Chris Corsano and Damo Suzuki, been a featured composer in the National Concert Hall, written music for theatre, and performed in 17 countries. Most recently, Smyth was invited by Russell to perform at Fête Quaqua in London, where he worked with John Butcher, Lol Coxhill, Max Eastley, Roger Turner, Hannah Marshall, Chris Burn, Bill Hsu, Dylan Bates, Jean Bordé and Ute Wassermann, as well as Russell himself. This has led to a duo with English cellist Hannah Marshall, and the formation of a new trio with Marshall and percussionist Mark Sanders.
Smyth was a co-founding member of the artist-run collective The Whispering Gallery, which was set up for the promotion of new music from both Ireland and abroad.
Other activity has included a Postgraduate Diploma in Music & Media Technologies from Trinity College, Dublin, an exhibition of works on paper in Roundstone, Connemara, and the premiere of electroacoustic work, 'The Dry Land', at the Sligo New Music Festival. He has also just released 'Spectre & Crown', the new album by The Jimmy Cake, to critical acclaim. Smyth also makes electronic music under the name Most Haunted and as a member of Boys Of Summer.
Paul G. Smyth | Protect Yrself From Ghosts | [Nysha] (2003)
Paul G. Smyth | The Anaesthetic | [Deserted Village] (2005)
Paul G. Smyth | Holy Thursday | [Slow Loris / Nysha] (2006)
Paul G. Smyth | For Christina Carter | [Nysha] (2008)
The Jimmy Cake | Dublin Gone. Everybody Dead. | [Pilatus] (2002)
The Jimmy Cake | Superlady | [Pilatus] (2003)
The Jimmy Cake / Domotic | split 12 | [Earsugar] (2004)
The Jimmy Cake | Spectre & Crown | [Pilatus] (2008)
David Kitt | The Big Romance | [Blanco y Negro] (2001)
David Kitt | Not Fade Away | [Rough Trade] (2006)
V/A | Orang-Utan | [Goppa] (2002) (w/ The Jimmy Cake)
V/A | Grain | [DotDotDot Music] (2003)
V/A | Other Voices - Songs From A Room 2 | [RTE] (2004) (w/ The Jimmy Cake)
V/A | Wailing Bones Vol. 9 | [Foxglove] (2006)
hey cheers for the add. really liking the music. much better than all the indie bands that normally add us. I'm a big fan of John Cage so this is right up my street.
Hey, sorry for the plug! Our debut album "Nightcycles" is out now, available to order from the Cableattack!! shop below
www.cableattack.com/shop
"The trio twist these intricate songs into works of beauty and uplifting sadness with their offbeat structures and ornate melodies... Listen attentively, and prepare to be completely ensnared in the narrative" 4/5 - The Irish Times
Stet Lab continues with two events featuring two inimitable guest artists.<br /><br />April 14th 2009: featuring Katie O’Looney<br />May 11th 2009: featuring Bruce Coates<br /><br />Both events take place at 9:00 pm, upstairs @ The Roundy, Castle Street, Cork, Ireland.<br /><br />Up-to-date information at: http://www.busterandfriends.com/stet/diary/
On Thursday, March 26th 2009, at 6:00 pm: Glucksman Unplugged presents improvised music by Cork-based guitarist-constructor Han-earl Park and Belfast-based saxophonist-theorist Franziska Schroeder at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery (Cork, Ireland). Admission is free.<br /><br />Up-to-date info at www.busterandfriends.com/performances
UCC Concert Series presents an improvised music performance by Paul Dunmall, Han-earl Park, Mark Sanders and Jamie Smith at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC, Cork on Wednesday, 11 February at 1:10 pm. Admission is free. Details at
Stet Lab takes place this _Tuesday_, 10 February, upstairs @ The Roundy, Cork, Ireland. The event will feature the awe-inspiring virtuoso saxophonist Paul Dunmall. Details at
http://www.busterandfriends.com/stet/diary/
The Lab will also feature appearances by visiting performers, drummer Mark Sanders and guitarist Jamie Smith, and Stet Lab (ir)regulars including Andrea Bonino, Han-earl Park, Paul Dowling, Neil O’Loghlen, Owen Sutton, Veronica Tadman and Kevin Terry.
Dunmall, Park, Sanders and Smith will also be performing at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC, Cork on Wednesday, 11 February at 1:10 pm as part of the UCC Concert Series. Details at
Unfortunately, this month’s Stet Lab has had to be postponed by 24 hours. The Lab will now take place on Tuesday, December 9th 2008.
http://www.busterandfriends.com/stet/diary/
Same place (Upstairs @ The Roundy), same time (9:00pm), same remarkable / outstanding / implausible / magical lineup (Bruce Coates, Sarah O’Halloran, Neil O’Loghlen and Han-earl Park).
Our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Goodmorning Paul thank you for accepting us.The first piano piece,the deseases of birds is the one that makes me like your music...come in Greece sometime
A very special Stet Lab takes place this Monday, November 10th. Featuring Belfast-based saxophonist Franziska Schroeder, the event will mark Stet Lab’s first birthday. Details at:
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