After loads of self-issued CD-Rs, LPs, and other gee gaws,
Rare Wood is the first officially released compact disc by
Sunburned Hand of the Man. Strangely, rather than be a single gig experience like many of their other recordings,
Rare Wood has the distinction of compiling five performances: two of them were recorded live on the radio for KDVS at the University of California, David, two others were recorded in the Netherlands, and a final one in the home of
Tony Goddess in Gloucester MA, all between 2002 and 2003. This was a period in which the band was traveling around the world bringing their brand of subsonic psychedelic tribal primitivism to stages and radio stations. The titles hardly matter, because the way this collection is sequenced it feels more like a
SHotM concert. Basses, guitars, un- or at least de-tuned guitars, synths, loops, drums and other percussion instruments weave around shouted all but unintelligible voices howling, growling, screaming, moaning and sometimes chanting. Only 42 minutes in length, it is also short for the group, who were joined by
Chris Corsano on at least some of these performances. While nothing here is unlistenable,
Rare Wood remains the least satisfying of the truly energetic freak folk craziness issued on LP or elsewhere. It feels like they were getting the improvisation system down here, but hadn't quite gotten to the point of being able to keep an audience intrigued for the length of a single gig. This one drags a bit, but there is still plenty to keep one interested. The difference is, you have to be allowed to be seduced by
Rare Wood; unlike their other records, which are tension creators, this one merely meanders on the fringes without ever letting its full, heart aesthetic into the grooves.