Raccoo-oo-oon – S/T 2 x LP

NNF145

 

All things must come to pass, if you love something set it free, it’s better to burn out than fade away, blah blah blah. No platitude can erase the bummer of a beloved band breaking up in their prime, and such is the case with Iowa City’s most untamed civic treasure, feral-psych foursome Raccoo-oo-oon, who decided to dissolve this year after nearly half a decade of galvanizing activity. Fortunately their parting gift to the fans/haters/planet is a vicious, thorny wilderness of endless, nameless songs heaved across four fried sides of black vinyl. Walk a mile in their shoes. As far as R.I.P. band statements go, this self-titled monster is tough to beat: doomed, desperate prog-rock flailings decay into hollow purgatories of dimly pulsing ambience, only to re-erupt into pissed percussion firestorms and experimental electricity. There are a few moments of Behold Secret Kingdom-style focus, but for the most part the mood remains raw and acidic, four souls on edge, backs to the crowd. It’s deconstruction time again. Nearly 80 minutes of music. Mastered by Pete Swanson, housed in reinforced double LP jackets with “Andy/Daren in repose” photo artwork, plus a pro-printed 11×11 insert.