This is one of the coolest [record]s I've ever set eyes on.

[Kendra Smith] is one of the "great solitaries" of [America]n "popular" music. She was first in the [Dream Syndicate] and then in [Opal] for most of the [1980s], finally leaving [Opal] in [1988] (?). I don't now know when the 7" with [Keith Levene] and [Hillel Slovak] was released (just bought it on [Ebay] this weekend; I'll do a [writeup] when it arrives), but the next I heard from her was this little gem, released in [1992] on [10"] [vinyl] and [CD]. Of course I have both! [What kind of a fool do you take me for?]!

We'll be focusing on the [vinyl] here, because it's much cooler than the [CD].

So: As I said, it's a [10"].

The [innersleeve] is the scaled-down kind that [10"] [record]s often have: The holes in the middle of each side are in the same proportion to the whole thing as are the holes in a [12"] [innersleeve]. These things make wharfinger rub his hands together in delight. The paper of the [innersleeve] is crisp and heavy.

The label on the [B side] features [radial symmetry|radially symmetrical] [op art], and the label on the [A side] features a 17th(?) century (or thereabouts) [engraving] of a [galleon] at sea, in that very rounded style we all enjoy. There is no type on either label.

There are no messages [engrave]d onto the ungrooved [peri-]labellar [vinyl] on either side of the [record] itself: This is the only flaw in the entire work, but with everything else was so perfect, that might have been [overkill]. There are of course [serial number]s there, as well there should be.

On to the outer [sleeve]. This is fantastic. This will knock your socks right off, so [hold onto your hat]. It's made of white lightweight cardboard with black text and some [line art] on one side. The printed side is glossy and the other side is unfinished. There are no colors other than black, and of course white. There's no glue; it's a flat piece of cardboard, shaped like so:

[See Figure One|Fig. 1]
             +-----------+
             |     A     |
        +----+ - - - - - +----+
        |    '           '    |
        | B  '     E     ' D  |
        |    '  (front)  '    |
        |    '           '    |
        +----+ - - - - - +----+
             |     C     |
             +-----------+

Whoa! The more lightly dotted lines are folds. You fold it like the top of a box. When folded, it looks like so, with the [record] proper safely nestled into the [innersleeve] and tucked in beneath the cozy flaps; this view is from the "back", such that the center portion (visible in [See Figure One|Fig. 1]) is now facing away from us. The same sides of the flaps are visible because they've been folded over. The whole thing has been rotated one hundred and eighty degrees in the plane of its flatness:

[See Figure One|Fig. 2]
            +--------+----+
            |    C   |    |
            +--------|  B |
            |    |   |    |
            |  D |--------+
            |    |   A    |
            +----+--------+

The front, or "E" section, bears more radially [radial symmetry|radially symmetrical] [op art]: Thin, alternating black and white wedges or rays extend from the center to the edges. The black rays are about one and a third times as wide as the wite ones. Where the shortest ([horizontal]) ones hit the edge of the sleeve, the black ones are about three eighths of an inch wide. In the center, about an inch and a half in diameter, is a round [medallion]ish engraving of [Icarus] making his big mistake. Like the [galleon] inside, it's not of recent origin.

On the "A" flap, there are credits to the left and a bare [track listing] to the right. The credits are as follows:

A La Babalon Production
Recorded December [1991] by
The Guild of Temporal Adventurers:
[Kendra Smith], [Jonah Corey], & [A. Philip Uberman].
[Engineer]ed by [Earl Martin] at [Kobayashi Records], [Hollywood].
All songs mixed by [Earl Martin] and the Guild except
[Waiting in the Rain], mixed by [Franz Pusch] and the Guild.

[Producer]: [Kendra Smith]
[Executive Producer]: [Sunshine]

Special thanks to Rita and young [Elric].
Greetings to [Synthesia D. Homage] and [Borderlands].

The [track listing] is in [all caps], and below it is the [sigil] or logo of the [record company]: [Fiasco Records], [Los Angeles], [California].

The credits and the [track listing] are positioned so that only the credits are visible when the sleeve is folded as shown in [See Figure One|Fig. 2].

On the "D" flap there is a [track listing] with credits for the [A side], and a similar listing and "B" flap for the [B side]. These are positioned so that they are hidden when the sleeve is folded; what remains visible on those two flaps is a strange symbol: A cross with four limbs of equal length, each limb of which has a smaller crossbar. Lines indicating [radiance] emit from behind the center of the cross. Superimposed over the center of the cross is an eye. The cross is superimposed over a roughly [equilateral triangle]. The top limb of the cross extends outside the [triangle]. At that point, the [triangle] extends a sort of semicircular [pseudopod] to contain it. The [pseudopod] is rimmed with little [flame]y things.

The "C" flap has the name of the record in large type, positioned to the left, so it's visible when the sleeve is folded as shown in [See Figure One|Fig. 2]. The righthand side of the "C" flap is ominously blank.

The [track listing]s are as follows. I'm assuming that "Corey" and "[Jonah Corey]" are the same person, though I lack evidence.

[A Side] (flap "D")

[Stars Are in Your Eyes] ([Jonah Corey|Corey]/Liqueure) 3:50
Vocals, acoustic [[guitar]] and [bass] by [Kendra Smith|Kendra]. [Electric guitar] by [Eergott Liqueure]. [Stick] by [Franz Pusch], [drums] by Orson.

[Earth Same Breath] ([Kendra Smith|Smith]) 3:15
Vocals, and [acoustic guitar] by [Kendra Smith|Kendra]. [Harmonium] and [pump organ] by [Jonah Corey|Cory] [sic] and [A. Philip Uberman|Uberman].

[Waiting in the Rain] ([Jonah Corey|Corey]/Liqueure) 3:45
Vocals by [Kendra Smith|Kendra] and [Jonah Corey|Cory] [sic]. [Guitar] by [Eergott Liqueure]. [Bass] by [Kendra Smith|Kendra] and Orson on [drums].

[Interlude]s side one: [Legbone Tibet]; [Himalayan Bells]

[B Side] (flap "B")

[She Brings the Rain] (The [Can]) 4:00
Vocal and [bass] by [Kendra Smith|Kendra]. [Lead guitar] by [Mitch Greenhill]. Sub-buzz [guitar] by [Eergott Liqueure|Eergott Liqueuere] [sic].

[Interlude] side two: [Railroad Mix] by J.C. and Bobby Ieon, [sic]

The "[Guild of Temporal Adventurers]" in the title is borrowed from the [science fiction] writer [Michael Moorcock]'s [End of Time] novels. The "Young Elric" in the credits could be anyone, but [Michael Moorcock] also wrote another series of novels wherein a character named Elric figured prominently. Perhaps Ms. Smith or a friend has named a dear little tyke after Moorcock's red-eyed murderous madman? One can only hope.

Do you want to know what it sounds like? It sounds wonderful. This "Orson" playing "[drums]" is clearly a joke; it's a poorly-programmed [drum machine], which detracts from the joy of the thing. Still, the songs are wonderful, and [Kendra Smith|Smith] has that glorious, calm, clear [contralto] (or whatever you call it). She sounds like she's looking [Cthulu] in the eye and smiling gently -- and he's getting kinda nervous, too. Now that we've heard [Mazzy Star], it's clear what [Kendra Smith|Smith] brought to [Opal]: She was the weird edge. She was the spacey sun, moon and stars nonsense in the [lyric]s. [David Roback] was the bluesy and [folky] stuff; there's none of that here. This [record] is alternately ominous and sunshiny [psychedelia], always with a mad edge and ([ironic] and/or theatrical, I trust) references to the [occult].

"[She Brings the Rain]" sounds very much like the original [Can] version, but with better singing.

The "[interlude]s" are brief [atmosphere]-genic sound doodles; the two on [side A] are mostly bells, and the one on [side B] is mostly machinery. On [side A], they precede the first and second songs, respectively. The one "[interlude]" on [side B] is between the second and third songs. Those familiar with [Kendra Smith|Smith]'s later [Five Ways of Disappearing] [album] will recognize the practice.

Oh, and best of all, it's [out of print].

Kendra Smith Presents the Guild of Temporal Adventurers