One of the '90s' greatest records — Spin's #2 album of 1998. Elliott Smith's major-label debut, cut just after he performed 〈Miss Misery〉 (from Good Will Hunting) at the Oscars. It moves from raw intimacy to lush arrangements of piano, brass and strings while keeping its fragile heart, with 〈Waltz #2 (XO)〉 and 〈Baby Britain〉.
The Enoshima seaside trio maya ongaku returned home to build “Nothing Space Studio” near a coastal shrine for this album. Acoustic guitar, JUNO-6, Rhodes, clarinet, Moog, esraj and field recordings weave a quiet, deep sound guided by their “shizen hassei” philosophy. 〈You are Silence〉, drawn from Obon, is a love song from the dead's point of view. Limited vinyl on Guruguru Brain.