a r t i s t : Raccoo-oo-oon
t i t l e : Behold Secret Kingdom
d a t e : 2007
l a b e l : Release The Bats (rtb#25)
g e n r e : Psychedelic Rock
r l s. d a t e : May/2007
t r a c k s : 08
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 65,2 MB
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Highly Recommended!
Starting with an unrelentingly dark dirge in the form of
ôBlack Branchesö one would be hard pressed to imagine that
anything in this album will contain pep, or be particularly
rewarding given repeat listens, but this impression would be
wrong. The dirge that forms the first track continues into the
second, however the freeform vocals which add themselves to
the already extremely dense soundscape give ôMirror Blanketö a
certain life that is missing on the first track.
It is perhaps that dense wall of guitars, electronics, bells,
and pretty much everything but the kitchen sink, that
separates this album from the rest. While similar artists like
Black Dice berate the ears with loud splenetic sounds, this
album does so while incorporating every sound they can muster
into their compositions. This all-encompassing approach can
sometimes act as a hindrance though, as a track like ôVisage
of the Foxö comes off as little more than the noodling of a
band feigning obscurity.
Fortunately that misguided attempt is a rare downpoint in the
album and is made up for by the following track, ôAntler
Maskö, which is anchored by a guitar line that is surrounded
by swirling saxophone and impressive drum lines. As the song
moves into its midway point all of those secondary instruments
seem to find the guitar line and the song sounds like just
that, a song. This track stands as an album highlight not
because it becomes more of a traditional track, but because of
how flawlessly it shifts from something experimental into
something more usual and back again. The songs end is a
ferocious rise of pounding cymbal crashes and various
electronic noises, something of a battle cry in the middle of
a soldiering album.
Of course, songs as good as ôAntler Maskö donÆt happen too
often, and the fact that it is not paralleled again on Behold
Secret Kingdom leaves the listener a bit disappointed in the
latter half of the album. ôDiamonds in the Dunesö is a
peculiar choice to follow ôAntler Maskö as it is as
traditional a song as Racoo-oo-oon has ever released.
Simply making abstract songs is easy; making an abstract song
that is genuinely enjoyable and will garner nods of
appreciation and admiration from listeners is something else
altogether. ôAntler Maskö manages that feat, causing listeners
to ask why more songs like it havenÆt already been made and
why, in all likelihood, they wonÆt be hearing very often from
anyone else. Tracks like ôInvisible Sunö come close, replacing
the more psychedelic approach of ôAntler Maskö with noise-rock
elements. Unfortunately though, the aimless noodling returns
with ôFangs and Arrowsö.
While the other tracks on this album contain immediate and
abrupt sunbursts of sound, this track starts of slowly, each
of its many sounds building upon the guitar and bassÆ driving
rhythm. Once all members have found their groove they are free
to lash out, with wailing vocals once again appearing. As the
track and album ends the fierce drumming that is present
throughout the album seems to want to keep playing.
While this album has a couple of misses, it is more
artistically valid to try and create something novel and fail
then it is to simply rehash old successful formulae. That is
not to mention that the majority of the songs on this album
are indeed successful attempts at something new, none more so
than ôAntler Maskö and the albumÆs slow-burning closer ôTail
at Prospect Peakö.
http://www.releasethebats.com/
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01-Black Branches [04:57]
02-Mirror Blanket [05:48]
03-Visage Of The Fox [04:31]
04-Antler Mask [06:23]
05-Diamonds In The Dunes [02:45]
06-Invisible Sun [05:47]
07-Fangs And Arrows [06:18]
08-Tail At Prospect Park [06:11]
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42:40 min