Philosopher's Stone is a band from Cincinnati, Ohio / Florence, Kentucky. Influences include Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, and The Pixies.

Gareth Mitchell (a.k.a. philosopher's stone) http://www.last.fm/music/Gareth+Mitchell was a member of The Secret Garden, a Bristol U.K. band that also counted Richard Walker of Amp and David Pearce from Flying Saucer Attack and now in clear horizon as members. Relocating to London, Mitchell ended up playing guitar in the live and touring incarnation of Amp.

Mitchell adopted the rubric Philosopher's Stone for his solo recordings and Preparation is his first album. The soundfields he constructs with guitars and loops expand and swirl around the listener's head. Melodic vocals flutter above strings and guitars burst through pushing meters into the red. Sound is tingled, smeared and looped. Within the mass the listener can hear what sounds like the chiming of bells, gongs and faint voices.

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