Ra Can Row. 1982 USA-Ohio

Ra Can Row were a band from Cincinnati, lead by guitarist Don Schott. At the time of this recording - namely 1982 - almost no one was doing this kind of heavy psychedelic music. Perhaps only LS Bearforce in Germany, and even they had roots in a Guru Guru past. Ra Can Row actually predicted the UK Festival Psych scene by about 3 to 5 years, and could be considered a proto-Ozric Tentacles. This is a very well produced, yet unhinged driving instrumental psych music, with wild guitar solos, and relentless rhythms. The opening 16 minute+ 'Things Beyond Our Control' is the highlight, but all the tracks are satisfying on some level. Could of used a bit of editing and some more focus on songwriting, but for the time and place, Ra Can Row is quite extraordinary.

There are two distinct presses of the album, and the latter promises much better sound and precision. After many years, I finally compared the two copies back to back. Honestly I don't hear much difference. The second press is truly a re-mix, not anything unique. I think it's a bit more crisp overall, but not enough to warrant an upgrade or to keep both.

Ownership: LP: 1982 Eye. Single sleeve with a 4 page insert and a postcard.

My copy of the original has a red and white silk-screened Ra, but I've seen plenty that have a black and white one as well. All the second presses I've seen have the black and white paste-on.

7/24/09; 9/21/18 (new entry)

As far as reissues go, Don Schott was in touch with me in early 2014, via the CDRWL blog, to inform us that a reissue LP and CD were in the works. But obviously nothing has come of it to date.