I know it's early, but so far this year the music that has been released is less than stellar in my opinion, that is until I got a copy of Ships, the latest release from the latest incarnation of Daniel Smith, now known only as Danielson. Danielson is not a man, but a collective if you will, of all-stars and friends from Sufjan Stevens to Deerhoof to Half-Handed Cloud and even Steve Albini to name a few. With that much talent mixed with Smith's usual band of troubadours, how can you not have an album of epic proportions.
So far, or at least at the time of this review, there are plans of all new handmade uniforms for the Famile, as well as an ongoing surge of 7”’s to accompany this release. Ships is the “Resolution” to two decades of work and culminates in a beautiful explosion of magical exploration. Daniel has said “I write out of day-to-day ups and downs and revelations and disappointments and miracles and my relationship with my Creator…”
At first listen, Ships may come off as a catchy, unusual album of music that, at some times resembles Disney moments or Circus times, but at all levels mirrors Fellini at his 8 ½ best. The album is full of surreal moments and the first single, and quite possibly the best single of the new year, Did I Step On Your Trumpet takes the listener into a trance like state with it’s communal chorus and it’s call and response verses. In the single, and I believe the whole album, Danielson preaches to “Be who you were made to be” and I believe Danielson has finally taken that step in finding his peace with this release.
If you are unfamiliar with Daniel Smith and are a fan of The Animal Collective, Deerhoof, or Sufjan Stevens, then I definitely think you should give Ships a try. The Album falls somewhere in between those acts and harnesses elements of what make those artists great. I also think that this album will once again bring awareness to the “Danielson Project” and to more artists lending themselves to Conceptual Living Works of Art. Ships is a “Hands in the Air” celebration and I highly recommend you checking the album out. |