So it must get pretty boring reading Robedoor reviews huh? These cats hit the ball so squarely out of the park every time that there?s not really any question this will be another winner. And indeed it is. Yeah, they might be LA scenesters, yeah they?ve opened for Sonic Youth, and yeah they?re on everybody?s lips these days. You may have heard everything else they?ve put out and be thinking ?why do I need another one?? Luckily, the answer?s an easy one. It?s simply an impeccable set, on an impeccable label, pressed onto real cds, and available for more than just 50 people in the know. And those are all good things. The packaging is also superb, with a grotesquely surreal black and white image on the cover, felt on the inside, and a few snaps of the boys in action.

The pictures of Britt and Alex almost detract a bit from the overall impact of this release, and I prefer to shut my eyes, blast the volume up, and enter into their sonic world unfettered by reminders that these two are simply human. The four tracks on display here don?t exactly break new sonic territory, but that?s not what we look for in a Robedoor release. Instead, you can think of this CD as a portal into their hermetically sealed nightmare vision of howling drones, gasping wind, and unearthly moans. The first track, ?Empty Temple? sets the course in purely aggro-drone fashion. The beauty here lies in the subtle details, the rich layers of texture, and the unforgiving sense of being enveloped in a menacing fog. The intensity of this track builds steadily, and their use of swelling and vaguely industrial loops is particularly compelling. There is no escaping this initial blast. It?s almost as if they?re taunting us, daring us to jump off the edge of a cliff, following them in a spiritual quest for uncharted exploration and ecstasy.

After this, the more sparse and spacious ?Abyss Whisperer? pulls the reins back in a bit. Percussion and looped vocal moans take center stage, over a soft bed of drone. As with all their best work, it?s a masterpiece of focus and intensity without resorting to bludgeoning noise. The third track follows suit, and it?s more of a gentle ride, replete with some beautifully ecstatic moments. After jumping off the cliff in the first few moments, the free fall into the abyss seems buttressed by a landing in a calm pool of dreamy womblike bliss. This is why we jump, knowing that the mystery is worth the risk. And finally, the closing tracks adds compatriot Roy Tatum on drums. His contributions seem mostly to be focused on cymbal splashes and add another layer of textural complexity. Passing through an unusually calm opening few minutes, this one builds back to the intensity of the first track, and lets us know the circle is closing again.

It?s ultimately up to us whether to take a deep breath and jump off that cliff. At least with Robedoor you know you?re in fully capable hands, and the rewards will be plentiful. Standing at the edge and watching will only get you so far, and they know it. 9/10 -- Eric Hardiman (18 February, 2008)