Are you some sort of underground music aficionado, one
possibly well into a mid-life crisis, and that had a thing for Small Stone
Records in the years right after the Y2K hysteria? If you answered
"Yes" to this altogether, or even just a portion of it, then chances
are you know the name GIDEON SMITH, or have at least heard it. The North
Carolina-based musician has been musically active since the late Eighties and
in the late Nineties, he formed Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned with former
members of the southern funk rockers Animal Bag. After a self-titled EP
recording garnered the band a respectable amount of attention, the
aforementioned Small Stone Records signed the act in 1999.
During their tenure at the label, Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned released three immensely well received full-length studio albums. They also contributed tracks to several tribute albums, compilations, and other specialized projects, along with being the subject of their own recorded tribute to the band ("F.T.W. - A Tribute To Gideon Smith" Scorpius Triangle Records - 2010). Depending on how each of us personally judges success, one can convincingly state that Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damn were quite a success, reinforced by the fact their music was quite well dispersed across the entertainment industry. How else would multiple tracks of the band's be used in such television shows as The Sopranos, Sons Of Anarchy, and Dog The Bounty Hunter; while their debut album would come to be hailed by Classic Rock Magazine as "...one of the best 150 debuts of all time".
In time, people discovered that GIDEON SMITH was not merely a musician alone, but a man gifted with myriad talents and interests. Known for his years of participation in Martial Arts, studies in Ancient History and Occultism, roles as a spoken word poet and author, perhaps his most important of them is being a practitioner of unwavering positive thinking and the philosophies of peace, inner and external.
Recent times have seen Gideon operating less in the musical realm as he immersed himself ever deeper into Life relating philosophical pursuits. Those of us that know Gideon personally count it as our good fortune to befriend this multifaceted, intellectually grounded, well rounded, shamanistic renaissance spiritualist. Now, that is not to say that Gideon Smith no longer delves into musical pursuits of course, for he does. In 2017, an under-the-radar project operating as Cemetery Crows surfaced with "Wolves Of Desire", a 4-song EP of heavy doom music. As purely speculation on my part, it would seem that Gideon may be either scratching at a particular itch, or using the reason of recording as cause to jam with some old pals again. He recently assembled an impromptu band beneath the banner of GODS OF ATLANTIS, where Gideon is providing vocals and guitar contributions. Rounding things out alongside him are bassist Von Bury (Lovesucker), guitarist Tim Murray (Smitty Flynn & The Rivieras) and drummer Loren Bates (English). Together, this collective from the Queen City laid down four songs that now comprise the "Black Seas Of Infinity" EP from GODS OF ATLANTIS.
Our introduction to these earthly deities of aquatic means begins with "Long Way Back From Your Love", and it may be a surprising affair for those already familiar with the audio history of Gideon Smith. GODS OF ATLANTIS are clearly submerged in the spirit and sonics of an experimental sort here, taking the form of downtuned, Lo-Fi, blues-imbued psychedelic doom. After a stripped down, slow oozing start, a mid-tempo, soupy haze of thick, chunky guitar riffs and hewn-out rhythmic grooves saturate everything within earshot. The headier elements of the song only increase, as does the fuzz encased guitar work that is constantly in play. Listeners with the ability of discernment will immediately know this is something from outside the box, otherworldly even, but there is one thing threading it to The Dixie Damned in a retrograde way... and that is Gideon Smith himself.
There is no mistaking the uniquely distinct and completely distinguishable vocalizations of Smith. His gravelly, raspy throat-bred syntax is qualifyingly his and his alone for no one else sounds even similar. Though sometimes heavy in effects, it is an altered state we find these vocals presented in "Witches Of Yesterday", their lowly, barely more than a whispered delivery rides upon the song's musical gallop. Again, there is an almost hypnotic quality lying just beneath the surface of this song, ingrained in every note, every chord, and each syllable.
We arrive at "Kama Sutra Killer", the song that is perhaps the most reminiscent of Gideon Smith's past output. There's a different overall feel to this song, established with a more traditional doom roll-out, right off the line. With its much cleaner intricacies, the blunt pummel of the earlier Lo-Fi qualities are dialed way back, almost to the point of removal. Eventually, the pace of this number begins to pick up, a slight quickening in its undercurrent, and continuing until all is carried out.
Where it carries us to is the fourth and final song, the EP-closing instrumental, "Poseidon Dreams Below". Make no mistake, this track is a flowing grower, friends, in that I discover something I'd missed prior with each new listen. A somewhat slowed aural advance churns as the instrumentation takes on characteristics of aquatic life. For example, guitar parts sound like whale calls at times and like the sea, teeming with life and activity, these are most heavy depths... ones awash with intensity.
Recently speaking with Gideon Smith, I learned that he is in a Jacques Cousteau-like mode of exploration, as in the best way to release this recording. That news will come soon I was told and without question, or hesitation in saying so, I believe it needs to be released. For years, Gideon Smith has been a much revered and well respected music icon, one whose fans are plentiful and worldwide. I know this because I am one and I know many others are as well and if need be, we will demand the timely release of the "Black Seas Of Infinity" EP from Gideon Smith's GODS OF ATLANTIS. So be it!
- Pat "Riot" Whitaker
