Smith&mudd le Suivant

It’s raining. Sitting here on a cold & wet Mancunian afternoon it’s difficult to remember what summer feels like.

However with this, the so-called difficult second album, a feeling of warmth breaks through the gloom.

Ten tracks in total (unless you’re lucky enough to own a Japanese copy) which continue on that deep Balearic

vibe that Smith & Mudd are renowned for. As with the first album there’s more to S&M than a few pretty deep

house tracks. We start with ‘New sofa’ a lovely mid-afternoon, pastis drinking, ambient piece before entering

‘Genoa’s gentle tribal drums and chants, another classic Smith & Mudd bassline. ‘Little Millie’ comes next, a

totally infectious latin groove and what a guitar line! The flute solo ain’t bad either.

‘The delivery man’ does exactly what it says on the tin, delivering a killer groove, rolling percussion and an

infectious guitar lick. The album title track then heads off into spookier territories - feel the sitars. Psyche-balearic

anyone? My personal favourite.

‘Two Rivers’ drops next with it’s Ashra-vibed guitars layered over another epic bass line. Also it features the first

vocals of the CD. A direction I can definitely see S&M taking in the future and perfect for those summer holidays

to come. ‘Ninety three’ is a spaced out, slo-mo killer with a cheeky little GET UP vocal refrain. It’ll sound great at

6am with the sun rising over the Adriatic.

‘Wem’ gets it’s second airing on CD after debuting on a comp by some hairy Mancs last year. It’s companion

piece, ‘The waiting’ is probably the greatest Cafe del Mar sunset track you’ve never heard (unless you bought

the super ltd 7”). There’s a distinct eastern flavour to this beauty.

Finally, ‘Annette Road’s Betty Blue-esque harmonicas bring a suitably gentle end to a truly lovely listening

experience. As you drift off towards the end of this album you realise Smith & Mudd have pulled off something

very special here.

Tricky second album my arse.

moonboots, manchester February 2009

new sofa Genoa little millie the delivery man le Suivant two rivers ninety three Wem the waiting annette road Bonus tracks: 24/7 (Recloose mix) vegetable square (idjut boys mix, 17 minute version)All tracks written & produced by Paul Murphy and Benjamin Smith. Recorded at Claremont 56 2007-2009. Flute

on Genoa & Little Millie by Tamar Osborn. Cello on Little Mille, Le suivant & Ninety three by Robin Lee. Sitar on

Le Suivant by Dave Noble. Harmonica & Dulcimer on Annette road by Benjamin Henry Edwards. Genoa & Two

rivers mixed by Mark Rayner. Mastered by Mark Rayner at the Turban rooms turbanrooms@googlemail.com.

Photography by Ian Williams. Design by Mudd. Cover Illustration by Ben Kehoe www.benkehoe.net

Smith & Mudd thank: Mark Rayner, Moonboots, Ian Williams, Dr Craig, Robin Lee, Dave Noble, Huw Costin, Matt

Klose, Tamar Osborn, Benjamin Henry Edwards & Ben Kehoe.

Paul thanks: Rabbit, Julian, Carey, lil’ Ben, Mum, Dad, Mike Lynch, Smith, Simon & Billie, Mark Seven & Balearic Mike.

Shouts to: Conrad & Dan, Jo, Jason & Ben, Tom & Lou, Andy, Jeff Defo, Young man, Phil, Jayne and my godson

Ryan, Sarah, Leon, Mary, Stuart, Spencer, 586, Tone & Nic, Duff, Alex Searle, James, Bradley, Chad, Jules & Eve,

Cosmo, Blackbelt, Felix, Fran & Laura, Nigel & Nesreen, Kitty, Phil Banks, Raj, Sean P, Phil Mison, Steve Terry, Sarah &

Steve, Matthew & Jo, Prins, Seren, Cosmic truth, Sincs & everybody who has supported Claremont 56.

Ben thanks: Tender loving Tansy, kind and generous Oscar and his baby sister Millie, Mum, Dad, sister Laura, Mudd,

the Highlands of Scotland for magical views and the little village Gorthleck. Shouts to: Simon Howell, Rhys Adams,

Will, Bob and Matt Klose, Chris Todd, James Baron, all the old Goldswong Terrace residents, Donald MacDougal

and his Mystery Juice, Macmaster & Hay, The Seals, The O’Regans, The Smiths, The Parkes and their young Sol,

and friends new and old with their unwavering support and unflinching criticism.

www.claremont56.com