Genre: Psych

01 Black Branches
02 Mirror Blanket
03 Visage of the Fox
04 Antler Mask
05 Diamonds in the Dunes
06 Invisible Sun
07 Fangs and Arrows
08 Tail at Prospect Park

Hailing from Iowa City, Raccoo-oo-oon compress the space of the surrounding plains into the psychedelic apertures piercing their droning sax tics and drippy guitars. Even before the music, the cover of "Behold the Secret Kingdom" evokes the outdoors and escape. A thick autumnal tree, dense background foliage that disorders the sky, and dark shadows cluster, shading three-fourths of the cover, a gate-way to the sludgy riffs that the band builds their songs up from. Centered in front of the tree is a droopy satin-y yellow flag with embossed insignias reminiscent of Cub scout badges - an invitation to a campfire sing-a-long (for Raccoo-oo-on have been labeled "campfire doom") echoed on the back cover of the recording where a circular badge perches on top of a hyperactive patchwork pattern. Circular structures and the wavering lights of flames, captured in strings that bend and quake and bend and quake, are present. Chiming vocals, however, are a little harder to come by, although an entrancing wail occasionally passes through.

Raccoo-oo-oon's tribal drumming anchors the woodsy feel, beats pounding and clamping, alternating between barely audible and abrasive. High above that in a churning mix, saxophone squawks teeter and in and out, bucking and bracing stability. Guitars traffic to all sides of the horns, individual notes stabbing at melodies and grotesque chords spewing bulky haze. Although weighted towards dangling extremes, "Behold the Secret Kingdom"'s secret is an almost dance-able beat weaving in and out of the psychedelic squabble.

Although the songs come with names, this release is best taken in its entirety, an aggressive blur. As one would expect from a band with a howl for a name, animal themes and bared teeth run through the song titles. Examples of animals entombed include "Fangs and Arrows" and "Visage of the Fox". "Antler Mask" opens with a dizzying, splintering guitar notes branching into ascending crowns that call to mind the form of horns depicted in the title. And "Mask" reminds the listener of the creature the band takes its name from: circular, dark and hidden - as are the highlights of Raccoo-oo-oon.