The Castanets – City Of Refuge

• 25th Oct 2008

Castanets’ fourth album of loss and despair from the scorching Nevada desert. Madness ensues.

It doesn’t take long for lunacy to take a grip as burning desert sun dries away life. On their previous long-player ‘In The Vines’ band leader Ray Raposa sang of escaping to the wilderness: “Let me live, out there where it all is, let me go…” Fed up of the tragedy of city life Raposa yearned to get back to a rootless existence. Awakening in a Nevada gas station following another incessant overnight touring drive Raposa gave instruction that this was the spot. This was his refuge for three weeks of solitude in a desert motel room.

There are few moments of clarity in this epic 15 track soundtrack to decay and endless dust baked winding roads. Opening with ‘Celestial Shore’ – a sad and stark, almost military salute, soaring guitar line – it feels as though this is Raposa’s last post. What follows appears to be the slow descent in to lunacy as the shattered beeps and menacing bass lines are held together only by the slowly surviving trembling guitar. Raposa’s shaky yet beautiful and passion filled voice doesn’t gargle dry until four and by the title track he is wondering if this idea of escape was false redemption: “I’m gona go to a city of refuge.”

These tracks were written before this mind bending location was hit upon but there is no doubt the feel and music of the piece is absolutely entrenched in this fierce and mind bending landscape. ‘I’ll Fly Away’ is the first track where the Castanets achieve vibrancy out of this rumbling hallucination. Appearing like a mirage it is a brief but beautiful respite where Ray dreams of salvation and ultimate escape: “When I die, Halleluiah, I’ll fly away.” Awakened from this vision the sprawling, mournful score returns and Raposa’s self loathing shows up once more: “Today I’m a savage.” An outlaw to modern life and it’s music industry, Raposa has written the perfect film score to a fated, expansive scenery led tale. Having found love ‘Shadow Valley’ is a gorgeous acceptance of whatever fate will befall this lost soul, Raymond: “Well, as long as I’ve lived, I’ve wanted to die / As long as I’ve loved you, I’ve been saying goodbye / And it’s okay to die.” Thunder and shots just add to the western siege feel.

A strangely sweet finale ‘After the Fall’ actually contemplates life, religion and suppression in an unresolved sigh. It’s clear that Ray Raposa and the Castanets still haven’t found what they are looking for. The flawed majesty of this loneliest of long-players will draw a line under these dark chapters. The next promises rock ‘n’ roll and, finally, uplifting redemption for New Weird America’s masses.