Robedoor and Pocahaunted are two LA drone groups and Hunted Gathering is a split CD in a gatefold jacket from the fine folks at Digitalis, with suitably creepy artwork - the cover has a human skull swathed in color both worn and collaged.
Ok this is just plain creepy. It makes Hermann Nitsch sound relatively upbeat in comparison. Ok, just kidding... But seriously, there's a similarity to Nitsch in the uneasy feeling that something very frightening, or at least unnervingly dissonant is about to happen at any second.
Spooky, evil, cavernous drones that sound like they were recorded up on a haunted mountain in the hills or a desert cave infested with malevolent spirits, far from the city of Los Angeles. Do not listen to before going to bed, do not listen to if you are prone to paranoia or frightening thoughts, do not listen to while operating heavy machinery.
It's hard to hell what kind of instruments the creepy-crawly freaks in Robedoor are playing - some drums are definitely audible, beating out a deathly dirge in distance, but on top of that - who knows? It sounds like if Sunn O)) were 100 feet tall and made of stone and sand - heavy as well, but strangely gritty - almost the sort of buzzing friction of a bowed cello or bass but distorted as well.
Pocahaunted has a sound more easily connected to the human world of rock and roll, discernible drum beats, guitars drenched in reverb and vocals. LIke a goth-popband lost and dying in the desert on a bad peyote trip....
The groups alternate back and forth over the course of the two CDs, doing a track or two then passing the torch on to the other group. Finally, Robedoor and Pocahaunted get together and double up the bad vibes on the album closer and title track, "Hunted Gathering".
Robedoor and Pocahaunted - you've really given me the willies - happy now? Hunted Gathering is essential listening for drone fanatics, creepy people and those who just like to get creeped out. Very cool record.
