Fraction (CHRISTIAN WEST COAST PSYCH, 1971)

Fraction - "Moon Blood"
Angelus Record Label
1971 USA

A Fantastic LP worthy of its Legendary status with great vocals by Jim Beach and powerful guitar work allegedly recorded live in the studio. Long out-of-print album, originally limited to 200 copies, by the short lived Los Angeles-based psychedelic, fuzz-drenched garage band.

"This is the kind of album that keeps us 70's rock fanatics on the never-ending quest to discover the elusive "lost masterpiece". FRACTION-"Moon Blood" LP (1970) is without a doubt one of the earliest examples of stoner rock. Blending elements of brain damaged psyche with bombastic drumming and absolutely over the top vocals, FRACTION immediately grabs the listener and virtually crams a hit of acid down their throat. Well, not quite... But FRACTION is the epitome of 70's drug damaged garage rock, and had FRACTION been from Detroit, maybe you would hear there name mentioned with the likes of the MC5, the UP, and the STOOGES. Nearly everything about FRACTION just reeks of the underground making them destined to be only a footnote in regards to the musical mainstream. However, for those of us with minds of our own FRACTION can be quite a killer musical journey. If I had to describe their sound I would say take the rawest, most drugged-out elements of the DOORS and cross it with the intensity of the MC5 and the STOOGES, then throw in a little grim Krautrock(like NIGHT SUN or HAIRY CHAPTER) and add on top of the whole mix a vocalist who sounds like he is literally having a mental breakdown at times and you begin to get the picture. The production on "Moon Blood" is pretty good although certainly sounds like a record made on a mid-range budget by a band with probably little previous studio experience. Luckily for FRACTION, their naivety works in their favor and gives "Moon Blood" a truly grim, disturbing, punky, and underground feel. The lyrics deal primarily with existential issues and have a somewhat Christian feel to them in a way similar to later heavy metal bands like BLACK SABBATH, TROUBLE, SAINT VITUS/OBSESSED. There isn't a hint of preachy Christianity here but rather a lyrical window into the after-effects of too much LSD, the Vietnam War, assassinations, protests, etc., on a person with faith in God. So "Moon Blood" is a really dark and deep affair, which renders it quite unique and absolutely mandatory for all those interested in late-60's and 70's psyche, pre-punk, hard prog, acid rock, and stoner music. FRACTION-"Moon Blood" is a notoriously valuable(as much as $1000+) and sought after LP(supposedly released in 1970 in quantities of only several hundred) so chances are a CD re-release is the only way you'll ever touch this monster. It may cost you a little bit more than you'd prefer, but FRACTION-"Moon Blood" is a strange beast of a record that you'll find yourself returning to over and over. So pick up a copy, sit back, throw on the headphones, smoke a bowl and take a trip into FRACTION's bleak world of Christian acid angst...."