THE SMOKE RINGS

"It's not for the faint-hearted," vocalist/ guitarist/keyboardist Jake Martin proudly states when describing the concept behind Space Time, the latest opus by the Smoke Rings out of southern Illinois. It's the third release in three years for this prolific trioalso featuring Martin's brother Chris on drums and bassist Adam Jenks - and unquestionably the most uncompromising. Mission accomplished, in other words. Where 2021's Modern Days reflected a litany of 60's and 70's influences, including the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Roxy Music, and its follow-up, California Gold, stripped things back to rock & roll basics, Space Time goes all in on a psychedelic, jammed-out vibe: 14 songs, most eclipsing the five-minute mark, each track bookended by a trippy intro and wide open ending. Which explains Martin's earlier remark about the hardcore nature of the project - in today's ADD world of streaming, this is a take no prisoners listening experience. But it's wholly rewarding for those willing to go along for the ride.

According to Martin, the majority of Space Time was composed on a restored Rhodes electric piano - which, despite weighing a ton, the guys happily lugged over to Black Cat Recording in Evansville. They also came armed with all sorts of musical odds and ends, including a Space Drum, Theremin, vintage synthesizers and "weird" guitar pedals. Experimentation, above all else, was the endgame. And producer Steve Tyner was more than game to help the trio create a musical foundation wild enough to match Martin's out-there lyrical theme which finds him pondering some very heady stuff: "[It's] basically my life's journey of finding where I am, where I'm going and enjoying the fact that I'm lost," he says. "Space Time [is] the realization that there is no past or future, only one big continuous moment. Time/ space is not a series of days or moments, but instead, it's an infinite panorama of all we've ever known or will ever know. Old friends, lovers, pets, family... all there still as real as ever. Just back down the road a little."

That may all carry a whiff of hippieness about it, but it translates beautifully on record. Across the 14 tracks, the Smoke Rings prove why they're one of the most accomplished acts around - the songwriting here contains all the best elements of previous releases, including inventive chord structures and affecting vocal melodies, but it's the added bit of experimentation that really sells it. Indeed, the arsenal of "crazy" instruments the trio brought along to Black Cat gets a workout throughout; unexpected sounds bubble to the surface then dive back down, keeping the listener on their toes, and the extended jams keep the good times rolling. As Martin notes, "It's best listened to straight through," and he's right on the mark; Space Time is meant for uninterrupted consumption. Straight up, this stands as the Smoke Rings' crowning sonic achievement to date - but surely there's more to come. Still, Martin would be cool if it served as the trio's final musical statement. "I'd be happy resting after this one. That's how proud I am of it."

Space Time is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, follow the Smoke Rings on Facebook.