A founding member of the Dream Syndicate, Kendra Smith was also one of the creative forces behind the California psychedelic band Opal in the mid-'80s. She left during the band's final tour and was replaced by Hope Sandoval (Opal changed its name to Mazzy Star after that tour). Rainy Day released an album and a single in 1984 before Roback and Smith became a duo in the psychedelic-tinged band Clay Allison, later Opal. Smith next formed the Guild of Temporal Adventureers for one eponymous EP in 1992, and then remained silent until the 1995 release of Five Ways of Disappearing, her solo debut, which features a number of different sounds and styles.
Opal only released one record, the Northern Line EP, and one album, Happy Nightmare Baby, before they split up but had recorded enough material for the Early Recordings compilation.Smith left Opal during the band's final tour and was replaced by Hope Sandoval, with Opal changing its name to Mazzy Star after the tour. Smith formed a new band, The Guild of Temporal Adventurers, with Jonah Corey and A. Phillip Uberman, who released an eponymous mini-LP in 1992, with Smith playing the pump organ. Her next release would not be until 1995 when the 4AD label issued her debut solo LP, Five Ways of Disappearing, described by Trouser Press as "an impressive — and colorful — achievement".
Not much is known about her after the solo album came out except according to 4AD she had moved to the woods of Northern California in the early 1990s, living in a small cabin with no electricity, and returned there after making two appearances to promote the album. In 2017, Smith sang vocals on the last track on The Dream Syndicate's reunion album How Did I Find Myself Here?, her first appearance on a musical recording since 1995, and returned with the Syndicate for her first live performances since Terrastock 2 in 1998. In 2018, she contributed the song “Moon Boat” to the soundtrack for the film Leave No Trace.
Kendra Smith resurfaced for the first time since the dissolution of Opal with this engaging effort recorded in tandem with Jonah Corey and A. Philip Uberman; although The Guild of Temporal Adventurers doesn't stray far from the trademark neo-psychedelic sound of Smith's previous work, the record's absorption of Eastern sounds and textures lend it a deep, meditative quality finely attuned to the warmth and simplicity of tracks like "Stars Are in Your Eyes" and "Wheel of the Law."
Kendra Smith Presents The Guild Of Temporal Adventurers 1992
Label: Fiasco – FSCO 104
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock
TRAXS
01. Interlude 0:59
Bells [Himalayan Bells] – Legbone Tibet
02. Stars Are In Your Eyes 3:50
Drums – Orson/Guitar – Eergott Liqueure/Percussion [Stick] – Franz Pusch/Vocals, Acoustic Guitar [Acoustic] – Kendra/Written-By – Liqueure, Corey
03. Interlude 0:37
Bells [Himalayan Bells] – Legbone Tibet
04. Earth Same Breath 3:15
Harmonium, Organ [Pump Organ] – Uberman, Corey/Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Kendra/Written-By – Smith/
05. Waiting In The Rain 3:45
Drums – Orson/ Guitar – Eergott Liqueure/Vocals – Corey/Vocals, Bass – Kendra/Written-By – Liqueure, Corey
06. She Brings The Rain 4:00
Guitar [Sub-Buzz Guitar] – Eergott Liqueure/Lead Guitar – Mitchell Greenhill/Vocals, Bass – Kendra/Written-By – The Can/
07. Iridescence 31 3:40
Harmonium, Organ [Pump Organ], Voice – Kendra/Voice/Organ [Calliope] – Corey/Written-By – Corey , Smith
08. Interlude 0:27
Mixed By [Railroad Mix] – Bobby Icon, J.C.
09. Wheel Of The Law 4:20
Guitar – Uberman
Organ, Vocals – Corey/Vocals, Bass – Kendra/Written-By – Corey, Smith