Field of Crows
Based in Texas, Darden Smith has been writing and performing for two decades.Field of Crowsis his tenth release and is informed by world events, though not overtly. Heart and conscience empowers his writing and he eschews any sloganeering, allowing his own sociopolitical concerns to take on a human scale. The arrangements have flair and drive, giving a listener the opportunity to be swept up in the musical identity of the songs. The lyric's narratives and sentiments then find their way in to one's awareness with gentle mystery and ease. Co-produced by Smith and Stewart Lerman, the pair have a successful working relationship over a handful of albums. These dozen tunes embrace longing and hope with confident and utterly believable emotional resonance.--David Greenberger