Razorhouse

Codex Jun

Heatshield Records, 2013

I’ll tell you what this sounds like.

This CD has all the manic, sweaty, overdone, guilt-strewn energy of a Pentecostal preacher on a seven day bender trying to act straight for a Sunday morning service before a packed  house which includes his new in-laws and a pissed off girlfriend. And he sort of pulls it off. Method acting through exaltations/proclamations of Jesus name, the sins of the world, poorly thought out plans of man with a wagging finger, it’s all enough to make you believe. . .

It feels like the minumum wages of sin working overtime. With a kick ass soundtrack. “You’re life is not your own” singer Mark Panick declares in the slower grind of “Get Up Jesus.”

“Dedicated Love” is a gospel tinged blues, that’s dead sexy and dripping in spanish moss. Rootsy, sexy and emotionally fitful.

“Let Your Love Bleed,” once again feels like an accusation. Condemnation for wrongheaded living that makes for memorable evenings. Is the singer jealous, inviting you to join in or damning? Hard to tell.

Everything about this release begs more questions than answers. And I don’t know that I could provide them. Repeated listening might bring you a better understanding of yourself, your desires or the gents at the helm of this controlled madness, but this isn’t another cookie cutter release. Nothing here sounds calculated or contrived.

“Bunny Bones” could have been taken from Sid Barrets notebook of incomplete thoughts and dreams. Fascination or revulsion lies on the other side of this. Post-modern, post-coherent, near transcendence, and verging on brilliance; this is as mixed as a message could ever hope to be. Razorhouse outdid themselves. Now what?

“Maybe we can drink this thing better?/This ain’t no life lesson song.”

Fair enough.

Let’s stand back and see what they do next.

http://www.intherazorhouse.com