Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | Slovenia first and only surf band turns out to be really good. Writing is interesting and arranging is fresh, as is the combinations of tones and rhythms. I found this disc hard to take out of the CD player. I hope this evolves into a full commercial release soon. |
Picks: Surfin' Tide, Stalking Mermaid, Wet Bikini, Amor, Blejski Wenc'k, Skawboy, Gargamel Slaci Tangice, Sale's Melioration, Roadracer, Revenge Of The Amor, Doo-Wop Surfin', Theme From Otpisani, Ska Movin', The Wedge, Squad Car, Hungarian Dance No. 5, Paint It Black, The Lonely Roozer, Pipeline
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A slow surf tide pool opener quickly yields to an infectious and rhythmic tune with a fine melody and really warm feel. Fine double picking and tuff glissandoes abound.
Surf (Instrumental)
Fast and fun, with speedy double picked leads on high registers over a nearly prancing rhythm track. Playful and sunny, and just like a topdown Saturday afternooner at Malibu. Excellent.
Surf (Instrumental)
Aggressive and playful, "Wet Bikini" races and dances on tubular sunshine. Highly original, and maybe a little like the Evasions on double time.
Surf (Instrumental)
Spiffy and playful, "Amor" is rhythm driven in an Austin kinda way, like an Aqua Velvets speedster. Highly enjoyable and very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a fine performance in the Super Stock's mold, but with creative license taken. Glissandoes pan across your consciousness. Rhythmic and pretty, and quite enjoyable. The guitar break is right outta "Cadillac," and is somehow quite appropriate. Infectious and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
A delicately damp-picked intro gives way to a spaghetti western style melody over a near ska rhythm that gradually goes faster and faster until double picking and glissandoes take over, transitioning into an almost Cossack sound. Very interesting and cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Gargamel Slaci Tangice" uses surf as a platform to laugh and sparkle from. This fine track is happy and playful, and sports fine dribbling double picked leads and glissandoes, plus a pick slide or two for extra zip. Just plain fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Apache" drums and a melody very similar to Richie Podolor's "Quiet Surf." This may borrow from other works, but it's very good. Pretty and dramatic, tribal and ringing with wet guitar work.
Surf (Instrumental)
The bass line from "Cadillac" rumbles under a rhythmic vibrato infected riff rocker. The track works well, especially when the middle eastern melody arrives. It becomes infectious and friendly, and a fine example of tribal surf.
Surf (Instrumental)
Damped reverbed surf, double picked dribbles, and shimmering vibrato. "Revenge Of The Amor" is very friendly, with warm tone and a fun beat. Double picking delicately plays out a sunny dusk as long tubes roll past the point. Very good!
Surf (Instrumental)
Doo-wop melodies run amok throughout this playful track. The chords from "His Latest Flame" and infectious playing sparkle and laugh, carrying to a grin whether you wanna or not!
Surf (Instrumental)
Ringing surf, rolling rhythms, sparkling tones, and a happy melody dance from your monitors as you dig "Theme From Otpisani." Occasionally thundering tom toms add a sense of drama, followed by fluid glissandoes. Infectious and enduring.
Surf (Instrumental)
Exotic percussion and ska rhythm guitar support Lee Hazelwood's "Ska Movin'" like never before. This is delicate and graceful, fanciful and very infectious. Easily the freshest treatment of this venerable classic in ages.
Surf (Instrumental)
Dick Dale's "The Wedge" fires off with speed and glistening walls of green. While fairly traditional, it's also bright and less menacing than most other versions.
Surf (Instrumental)
The great Eddie and the Showmen classic is powered out, delicately dribbled, and nicely played. The arrangement is less power driven and more reverb glissandoed.
Surf (Instrumental)
Brahms' "Hungarian Rhapsody" is grinningly fired off like there's no tomorrow, with clean melody lines and dribbling guitar. Darn fine track, with lots summer surf sparkle.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" starts with a shimmering opener, and moves to a double picked power train delivery. Lots of fun here, with a really nice addition of a classical riff mid stream... way too cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big chord wham and surf bam, spooky rolling waves, charging reverbed guitars... it's BIG with a capital B, yet delicate, and sports some very bizarre guitaristry in places, just to keep you off balance.
Surf (Instrumental)
It may be another cover of "Pipeline," but it's also relatively fresh in its sound. Their playfulness with it certainly makes it shine... an anthem for another surf season.
