Wet Hair’s “Dream”, the band’s debut full-length album, is an ambitious and exciting droney synth-punk release from the Iowa City natives.

Released on Not Not Fun records, the album shares a similar vibe to releases by label mates Pocahaunted, Sun Araw and Wet Hair vocalist Shawn Reed’s now defunct Racoo-oo-oon project.

However, while those groups tend to favor a more blissful, ambient approach, Wet Hair prefers intensity, raucousness and a punk rock aesthetic that sets them apart from their contemporaries in the American underground.

After releasing a handful of cassettes release on Reed’s label, Night People, Wet Hair gained a lot of attention on the Internet for their unique execution of experimental music.

With “Dream,” which is comprised entirely of re-recordings of already released material, the band chose to record in an actual studio, giving the album a sense of clarity and sheen that was missing on past releases. Make no mistake, though; all the ferocity and ethereal intensity of the band’s previous material is there. It just sounds a whole lot better and hits with greater immediacy.

“Cult Electric Annihilation,” the album’s opening track, begins with a buzzing, noisy synthesizer drone before drummer Ryan Garbe’s trademark relentless ramshackle drumming enters the fold.

Layers of vintage organs, synthesizers and keyboards enter the mix, crashing and colliding as they pan from left to right, creating a mildly disorienting and wildly psychedelic vibe.

A low fidelity field recording of clanging bells enters the mix halfway through, signaling Reed’s entrance.

“We are growing/Yes, we are growing today,” Reed sings, his menacing vocals barely discernible, almost lost in distortion, delay and reverb.

Part of what makes “Dream” such an enjoyable and surprising listen is its implementation of traditional elements of pop music.

Upon a cursory listen, these elements don’t necessarily pop out; Wet Hair does a brilliant job of burying them deep into the heart of these spaced out, noisy jams. “The Beach,” a cassette released this past winter, hinted at the band’s slightly poppier approach.

While “Dream” is an experimental, “weirdo” release through and through, it is certainly more accessible than other modern experimental releases.

While fans of traditional forms of rock and pop music will likely be put off by Wet Hair’s non-traditional approach, those with an interest in or appreciation of underground music will likely find “Dream” to be an exciting and consistent release from one of the most promising bands in the American Underground.

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E-mail the author: Ben Weissenborn