In some respects, 2009 was a breakout year for Wet Hair. With numerous tour dates played across the country and two full-lengths on the consistently great Not Not Fun label under their belt, it seemed that this Iowa City-based duo at least began to be viewed on their own terms, rather than the group formerly known as Raccoo-oo-oon. “Glass Fountain”, the second of those full-lengths, at least confirmed Wet Hair’s position in the upper tier of art-damaged, psychedelic popsters within the current underground.

As with their previous full-length “Dream”, which this material was reportedly recorded around the same time as, Wet Hair serves up droning, yet playful, locked groove jams constructed around Ryan Garbes’ wavering metronomic drumming style or antiquated rhythm machines. Over this, they spread tinkly melodic organ/keyboard lines or, in some cases, swirling synth modulations. Yes, it’s a simple formula, and one that naturally brings forth Suicide comparisons.

But Suicide was also all about Alan Vega’s hopped-up vocals; his tales of urban paranoia always clear and up front in the mix. Shawn Reed’s vocals, on the other hand, are employed more as an additional noise generator, not necessarily used to communicate anything other than pure stoned bliss. On “Mesmerized” and “When the Right Time Comes”, the latter being perhaps the most direct and pop-oriented track, you can catch snippets of lyrics that suggest vague childhood remembrances before things start to take on an inebriated slur.

All in all, though, these elements meld together to create something eerily disorienting, yet strangely inviting. Much like their Midwestern mates to the north, Peaking Lights, Wet Hair’s music is something you can get completely lost in. 7/10 -- David Perron (3 March, 2010)