Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Billy Joe Winghead - Theramins at 89.7 Paces
 | This live CD-R resulted from one fine afternoon at KFJC when Big Myke Destiny hosted Oklahoma's most unusual band. Several utterly amazing instrumentals were included in the performance, all with theramin as the lead instrument, supported by surf/vibrato guitar, fuzz guitar, bass, and drums. Vocals include the ever funny "Branson On My Mind," and uproarious rendition of the Southern Rock classic "Freebird," and a priceless Casey Casem parody. These boys are about as twisted as they come, and proud of it! |
Picks: Harlem Nocturne, Peter Gunn, Sleep Walk, Quiet Village
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
The classic Earl Hagen tune made familiar by the Viscounts come into new territory as Billy Joe Winghead's theremin supports the vibrato guitar lead. The eeriness is unnerving, and the warble somehow magnetic. What a monster, big fuzz break, evil tones, and brooding dockside danger.
Surf Dementia (Instrumental)
There's not much can be said once you realize the insanity of this track. Crunchy drums, thundering bass, two strong rhythm guitars, and deep space Hawkwind-ish theremin wailing, and that's the lead. Intense, insane, and indescribably cool. Henry Mancini' "Peter Gunn" will never be the same again.
Theramin Surf (Instrumental)
There's not a change on earth that Santo and Johnny meant this to happen to their beautiful song. Air raid siren lead theremin, a disaster film effects track performance totally undoes any sense of normality you may be left with.
Estranged Exotica (Instrumental)
Well now, using a sample from the Martin Denny classic to provide the appropriate jungle exotica feel, Billy Joe Winghead and his buds drift right into a garage melange of warped sound and thick crunch. It's almost as if Arthur Lyman's exotica had found its way to an alien civilization near Andromeda, where the locals thought it was the sounds of the gods. Given the great distances, the signal had been warped disturbingly. This is just too priceless to pass up.