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Ripped By: ChrisGoesRock
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From the archives of the legendary El Paso, Texas Suemi label comes this previously unreleased psych masterpiece by Iota. This 4 piece band tore up Texas before re-locating to Memphis to record for Hi Records in the late 60's. They released two great 45's, including the amazing Within These Precincts in 1971. Deemed too dark and disturbing for commercial radio, these two releases went nowhere and the band went their separate ways after two years of playing and recording. We have compiled the best tracks recorded in both Memphis and El Paso to put together what we feel is one of the finest Texas psych rock LP's ever released.(Forced-Magazine)

Originally formed in El Paso in the late 60s, this Texan four-piece soon
relocated to Memphis and released a couple of singles. Finding that
their sound and lyrics were apparently too strong and dark for the
times, the band broke up in 1972 leaving behind only a thin legacy. This
CD compiles ten songs for a half hour of vintage, rough psychedelic
rock, sometimes not far off from Blue Cheer, sometimes more laid-back
like many of their contemporaries.

Mark Evans' guitar work ranges from pure fuzzed-out riffing to mildly
funkified wah scratches, while Steve Phipps' organ distinguishes the
group from many of the dual guitar outfits of the time. Being the band
leader and singer, it's perhaps not surprising that Carl Neer's bass
lines are often mixed higher than usual for this sort of band, while
Rick Ramaka's drums get the job done rhythmically.

The delicate guitar picking during the first bars of "Precincts" soon
expands into classic 70s psych, with expansive keyboards and vocals that
are nearly-but-not-quite over the top. When the guitar kicks into the
lead, it's got the perfect fuzz tone, on the edge of breaking up
completely. One of the best songs here, "Love Come Wicked" sports deep
riffing, cool organ, and vocals perhaps mildly reminiscent of early Deep
Purple. The burning guitar lead in the middle is really something.

Heavier rock filled with distorted guitar and a blues-derived riff,
"Glympses" leads into the slower, dark-tinged bit of psych aptly titled
"R.I.P." The doo-wah chorus of "Better Place" feels somewhat different,
with a vaguely funky feel, while "Bottle Baby" will make you nod your
head to the thick bass riff and staccato organ.

The rest of the brief collection includes the spacious feel of "Sing For
You" and "The Words Are True," with strong organ and a really compressed
distorted guitar sound. "I'm Gonna Be a Man" is a more traditional late
60s garage rock tune, while "Our Love so Warm" is the most "of-its-time"
song, a paisley-covered psych tune complete with pure '60s-era vocal
harmonies and jangly guitars.

Great to have Shadoks pulling out items like this from various label
archives. This one's a pretty welcome find, whether you're looking for
some pretty heavy fuzz-riffs or flower-power psych. Shame it's only
thirty minutes, but then, that's all there was to find, which is better
than nothing!(Shadoks Music)

Iota's biography is a short read and its discography even shorter. Hailing from El Paso, Texas, this four-piece was active in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. It recorded a studio session in 1971 for the Suemi label, out of which two singles came out. Success -- and the projected LP -- never materialized. Thanks to Suemi's archiving care, the Shadoks imprint was able to retrieve this lost album in 2003. Iota had little money and Suemi spent little more on them: the eight-track tapes sound thin and under-produced but the music features enough original quirks to catch the interest of ‘70s psychedelic/acid rock collectors. To the standard post- Cream power trio, Iota added Hammond organ (played by Steve Phipps ), which takes their sound closer to early Deep Purple , especially in “Sing for You." The highlight of the set is “Precincts," the group's first single A-side. A dark, moody song mixed with lots of cavernous bass, it is unusual even by heavy psych rock standards and features a gripping melody delivered with much drama by leader Carl Neer . “Love Come Wicked," “Bottle Baby" and “Better Place" also stand as nicely written songs and walk the line separating blues rock and psych rock. More overtly pop, “I'm Gonna Be a Man" and “Our Love So Warm" are less successful. (François Couture -
all music guide)

01. Precincts
02. Glympses
03. R.I.P.
04. Love Come Wicked
05. Bottle Baby
06. Sing For You
07. Better Place
08. Words Are True, The
09. I'm Gonna Be A Man
10. Our Love So Warm