Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Davie Allan and the Arrows - Fuzz Festdotdotdotdotdot
artworkTotal Energy have reissued the defunct AVI release from Davie Allan, and it's a good thing. They've added both of the In The Red mixes from Davie's single of a few years back.

The Album: A few words: aural landscapes, fluid fuzz, liquid melodies.

Mega monster release from Davie Allan and the Arrows, following on the heels of his way-grodie 7 inch. Cleaner sound, but all the same edge and energy and wonderful Arrow-Dynamics. Davie's live performances have been nothing less than amazing, and Chris Ashford has captured it quite well here.

Davie is one of the most under appreciated guitar legends around. His style is totally unique, and his talent is immense. He's been writing and recording since '65 when his first single "War Path" c/w "Beyond The Blue" was issued on Cude, Mike Curb's first label. This was a surf single, but with the collaboration for the Skaterdater film, Davie's music began to get noticed, and before long, he was scoring the infamous Roger Corman biker films like Devil's Angels, and hitting the charts with "Blue's Theme".

Paul Johnson played rhythm guitar in Davie's band the Arrows for a while back then too, but it is Davie's guitar that makes it all work. By '67, his "Cycledelic" all but destroyed any who would listen.

During the eighties, Davie recorded several albums for Chris Ashford, and now in the nineties, his latest album Fuzz Fest completely pummels all who dare. Davie played at Summer Surf III in July 1996, and it was simply the most amazing thing I've witnessed. When he screamed into his pickups midway through "Missing Link" (based on the middle part of "Cycledelic"), the house came down! One day, I'd really like to see some of that make it to a CD.
Picks: Malfunction In Sector 9, Helldorado, Six-String Highway, Experiment In Terror, Angel Dust, The Party, Gunslinger, Open Throttle, Frantic, Emergency, Metal Fatigue, Polycarbonate, Corridor Of Fear, Roswell, N. M., Skaterdater, Open Throttle, Skaterdater

Track by Track Review


Malfunction In Sector 9 dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Ominous to the max, and unusual for Davie. Melodic, and BIG, BIG, BIG!

Helldorado dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Ridin' through the desert on the way to OBLIVION! Great name!

Six-String Highway dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

UGLY guitar and MEAN playing and a HEAVY sound. Rollin' down 101 to a rumble on the docks...

Experiment In Terror dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

One of 2 Henry Mancini numbers on this CD. Certainly, not as Hank envisioned it. Masterful guitar work with major wah pedal and several extra guitar lines thrown in for good measure.

Angel Dust dotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Named in tribute to the bootleg album in tribute to Davie with all the Roger Corman soundtrack stuff on it... Ugly and Pretty coexist in this track.

The Party dotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Hank never expected anyone to fuzz out his lush pieces, but then he never expected Davie to show up at his party either. Sorta pompous and edgy, and again featuring a phenomenal break!

Gunslinger dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Slow and sad with subdued keys and a basic melody. It's really hard not to like what Davie's done here.

Open Throttle dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

The B-side of "Chopper." Chris Ashford mixed the single with everything in the red, and the drums mixed almost all the way into the ambient. On this CD, it's all there, crisp and clean, and not a drop less powerful. Very ugly, ominous, and HUGE! A stomp with the fuzz box on 11 produced with fingernails on the blackboard in mind.

Frantic dotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

A nervous rhythm and an urgency... very cool indeed.

Emergency dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

A Euro 2 note warble siren as a basis for the guitar, this hints of a rainy scene at night with an emergency vehicle rollin' down a country road.

Metal Fatigue dotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

The lead & rhythm work really well together, edgy and urgent, and not a hint of fatigue.

Polycarbonate dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

"Polyurethane" renamed... again. The arrangement Davie's come up with is very unique here. He's set up a strange tension between an almost poppy rhythm under his monster guitar onslaught. Vote for Davie for GOD!

Corridor Of Fear dotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Slow nightmare accompaniment... psycho dazical.

Roswell, N. M. dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

Flying saucers, alien sounds, and Davie's signature fuzz. Twin leads are exquisite here, and the sense of impending visitation, like when gramma's on the way, is superb.

Skaterdater dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

So much cleaner than the 45... Melodic & typically Davie is structure and style, i. e. Biker Fuzz with a curious pop melody.

Open Throttle dotdotdotdotdot
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)

The B-side of "Chopper." Chris Ashford mixed the single with everything in the red, and the drums mixed almost all the way into the ambient. On this CD, it's all there, crisp and clean, and not a drop less powerful. Very ugly, ominous, and HUGE! A stomp with the fuzz box on 11 produced with fingernails on the blackboard in mind.

Skaterdater dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

So much cleaner than the 45... Melodic & typically Davie is structure and style, i. e. Biker Fuzz with a curious pop melody.