It is fitting that the first of Scott Smith's home-brewed progressive psych-folk to be officially released is "Music for the Third Ear" because it comprehensively showcases Smith's playing and writing skills, both solo and with collaborators. His compositions have the timeless fluidity and musicality of the twilight period of UK psychedelic pop, around about the time when fairground trip-scapes were giving way to the expansive fields of early progressive rock. His vocals, whether straight or multi-tracked into divine choruses, have something of the quality of the early Robert Wyatt. "Third Ear" bursts with invention and surprising twists, from the short introductory instrumental redolent of Soft Machine, to lilting folk-rock like the "Being Alive" (recalling the legendary folkies Fresh Maggots with its acidic burst of electric lead guitar), and the intricate and dynamic "Alone We Go", on which Scott is assisted by friends to expand the instrumental palette - the duel between electric guitar and sitar at the conclusion of this track is worth the price of admission alone. Cosmic themes are micro-dotted throughout as the titles suggest - "We Have Come From the Earth", "Beyond a Star", and the stunning "Watcher of the Skies". This is definitely a CD for lovers of new folk by artists such as Greg Weeks, P.G. Six, Tower Recordings, Pothole Skinny and Six Organs of Admittance. (It's could even be said that these 2000 recordings were somewhat ahead of the game.)