The Ivytree/Chris Smith, Fat Cat split 12" 33/34 (side A)

The Ivytree is the solo work of Glenn Donaldson from the Bay Area avant-folk crew known as Jewelled Antler Collective. This album-side of this 2005 split collects a bit of every style from his repertoire, and they all cross-pollinate. The folk songs emphasize soundscape over melody, with the vocals almost buried inside of the guitar, both sonically and structurally. The more abstract works hint at songs, even as the textured sounds fight with the guitars. The Chris Smith side is a radical departure, with harsh guitar drones reminiscent of Matt Bower or Metal Machine Music. The Ivy Tree side is moderate in volume with lots of treble and dynamics, while Chris Smith is thick and midrange-y. I quite appreciate the consistent packaging of the Fat Cat split 12" series that gives no clue from the cover of what is inside.