[This review was originally published in Badaboom Gramaphone #3 and appears here with permission.]
Baltimore’s most prominent early-’80s post-hardcore band, Reptile House made its debut with the four-song I Stumble as the Crow Flies. Produced by Ian MacKaye (who also supplied some keyboards), the record has an artfulness and beautifully twisted poetry uncommon to Dischord releases.
In 1985, drummer Lincoln May left to join Samhain; in 1987, singer Daniel Strasser (a.k.a. Higgs) packed up his various aliases and left as well, forming Lungfish with onetime Reptile House rhythm guitarist Asa Osborne. When bassist Leigh Panlilio departed, the last original member, guitarist Joe Goldsborough, kept Reptile House going with a revolving crew of replacements until finally grinding to a halt in 1988.
The posthumously released Listen to the Powersoul LP on Goldsborough’s own Merkin label contains some of the group’s best moments. It’s lyrically rich and musically haunting, despite weak production, an occasional sleepy tempo and some underdeveloped arrangements.