a r t i s t : Wet Hair
t i t l e : Dream
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : Not Not Fun Records
c a t : NNF154
s o u r c e : Vinyl
g e n r e : Psychedelic/Experimental
r l s. d a t e : Apr/2009
t r a c k s : 04
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 49,8 MB
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Wet Hair's "Dream", the band's debut full-length album, is an
ambitious and exciting droney synth-punk release from the Iowa
City natives.
Released on Not Not Fun records, the album shares a similar
vibe to releases by label mates Pocahaunted, Sun Araw and Wet
Hair vocalist Shawn Reed's now defunct Racoo-oo-oon project.
However, while those groups tend to favor a more blissful,
ambient approach, Wet Hair prefers intensity, raucousness and
a punk rock aesthetic that sets them apart from their
contemporaries in the American underground.
After releasing a handful of cassettes release on Reed's
label, Night People, Wet Hair gained a lot of attention on the
Internet for their unique execution of experimental music.
With "Dream," which is comprised entirely of re-recordings of
already released material, the band chose to record in an
actual studio, giving the album a sense of clarity and sheen
that was missing on past releases. Make no mistake, though;
all the ferocity and ethereal intensity of the band's previous
material is there. It just sounds a whole lot better and hits
with greater immediacy.
"Cult Electric Annihilation," the album's opening track,
begins with a buzzing, noisy synthesizer drone before drummer
Ryan Garbe's trademark relentless ramshackle drumming enters
the fold.
Layers of vintage organs, synthesizers and keyboards enter the
mix, crashing and colliding as they pan from left to right,
creating a mildly disorienting and wildly psychedelic vibe.
A low fidelity field recording of clanging bells enters the
mix halfway through, signaling Reed's entrance.
"We are growing/Yes, we are growing today," Reed sings, his
menacing vocals barely discernible, almost lost in distortion,
delay and reverb.
Part of what makes "Dream" such an enjoyable and surprising
listen is its implementation of traditional elements of pop
music.
Upon a cursory listen, these elements don't necessarily pop
out; Wet Hair does a brilliant job of burying them deep into
the heart of these spaced out, noisy jams. "The Beach," a
cassette released this past winter, hinted at the band's
slightly poppier approach.
While "Dream" is an experimental, "weirdo" release through and
through, it is certainly more accessible than other modern
experimental releases.
While fans of traditional forms of rock and pop music will
likely be put off by Wet Hair's non-traditional approach,
those with an interest in or appreciation of underground music
will likely find "Dream" to be an exciting and consistent
release from one of the most promising bands in the American
Underground.
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01-Cult Electric Annihilation [08:29]
02-Black Sand [08:17]
03-Ordinary Lives [06:35]
04-Radio Machines / Gold Chains [08:50]
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32:11 min