Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Reverb Brasil: Uma Colecao De Bandas Surfe
 | This is a most welcome receipt for a number of reasons. Not only does it capture a number of otherwise hard to get Brazilian bands, but it is made up mostly of early tracks, often demos, and it is the only release I've been able to find with the illusive Hunting Bitches on it. Lots of this is demo sounding, though it sounds like heroic efforts were made to master it to gain consistency. Yet, there is much here to celebrate. Viva Reverb Brasil! |
Picks: Ambervisions - Vegas, Visite Nossa Cozinha, Cochabambas - Triste Fim De Josefel Zanatas, Fuca Bala, Estrume'n'tal - Et De Varginha, Tubarao, The Gasolines - Pigrizia, Ojos Negros, Go - Destrua Meu Chip Quando Eu Morrer, Amperagem Maxima, The Huntington Bitches - Ultimate, Fetiche Bizarro, Kozmic Gorillas - Kozmic Gorillas, Sunbathing, Limbonautas - Kursk, O Submarino Atomico, Salve S’lvio, Maremotos - Surfista Anonimo, Maremoto, Netunos - 120, Aloha, Pancho!, Orestes Prezza - Octopunch, L'@, Retrofoguetes - As Concubinas Mecanicas Do Dr. Karzov, O Avanco Da Robotica, The Surfmotherfuckers - Sadomasofucker, El Duelo de Chiuauas
Track by Track Review
Surf Punk (Instrumental)
There's always lots of energy in Ambervisions songs, and "Vegas" is no exception. Punky, pumped up, and angry, with a serious attitude. The sound is demo like, yet the attack and power substantial.
Ambervisions - Visite Nossa Cozinha Surf Punk (Instrumental)
Os Ambervisions deliver a very punky and angry instro that's dark and fuzzy. The melody riff is pretty surfable, while the tone is a punked out Agent Orange without the precision. Some mighty speedy guitar work ensues that are reminiscent in intensity of Armageddon's "Buzzard."
Cochabambas - Triste Fim De Josefel Zanatas Surf Punk (Instrumental)
"Wipe Out" drums open up a big chord accented light lead guitar song with a spunky sound that transitions between a "Mr. Moto" delicacy and major chord splash. Fun track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big trash surf in a frat kinda mold, with lots of crash chord action and a bass focus. The guitars mostly crash out chords or noodle in a jam. The damped surf rhythm is cool.
Estrume'n'tal - Et De Varginha Surf Punk (Instrumental)
Very thick intense distortion guitars, compressed and powerful over tribal tom toms and a solid surf beat. Mighty big, with thunder and power whine guitars. A buzz saw would be less intense. More riff than melody, but what power!
Thick Intense Surf (Instrumental)
The Jaws riff is darkly ground to even scarier heights. Quickly, this becomes a melodic thick monster, with a very hard edge and not a drop of tranquility. Take Frankie Camaro's guitar and amp it up and compress the bejeebers out of it, and it still won't be this dark and huge.
Surf (Instrumental)
Brazilian rhythms and groove with surf guitar and a happy upbeat splash. "Pigrizia" is quite fun, tropical, and reverby. maybe a little reminiscent of the Swamis' "Ayo!," it's a tuff track to put down.
The Gasolines - Ojos Negros Surf (Instrumental)
The typically grand ideas of The Gasolines continue in "Ojos Negros." Castanets, surf guitar, and exotic drums brood over a slightly sad melody with a shimmering charm. Very cool!
Go - Destrua Meu Chip Quando Eu Morrer Surf Punk (Instrumental)
This very simple track uses an oddly attractive progression and transitional lines to make it shine. It's on the gloomy side, maybe even pessimistic, yet connects in a non threatening way. Very cool!
Surf Punk (Instrumental)
"Amperagem Maxima" straddles the line between surf and punk in a demo mix with demented chants. It's a punk grind that's heavy at times, and delicate at others. Intriguing.
The Huntington Bitches - Ultimate Surf (Instrumental)
"Ultimate" sports a circular riff played on richly reverbed surf guitar. This song is pretty traditional aurally, while being modern structurally. The organ adds to the break. Dark imagery and dangerous subject matter are at odds with the purity of the curl. This very illusive Brazilian band is superb.
The Huntington Bitches - Fetiche Bizarro Surf (Instrumental)
This slow moving piece is epic in imagery and heavy in tone. Sad smiles and shimmering guitars paint a portrait of the dawn after a hard night's rain. The Huntington Bitches have created a splendid track with a bit of edge and power underpinning an inviting melody. Way cool!
Kozmic Gorillas - Kozmic Gorillas Surf (Instrumental)
Chord dominated chunked out reverb splash with a dissonant edge. "Kozmic Gorillas" doesn't command attention, but does leave you satisfied. Lots of energy in a very garage fashion.
Kozmic Gorillas - Sunbathing Surf (Instrumental)
With a bit of a nod to "Besame Mucho," this song relies on reverb and tremolo to charm and dominate. It's a very cool track with a thick surf sound and ominous edge. "Sunbathing" throbs and pulses.
Limbonautas - Kursk, O Submarino Atomico Surf Punk (Instrumental)
Extra dark, basement mean, and not the least bit welcoming, "Kursk, O Submarino Atomico" is like an early Alice Cooper epic strained through feedback and punk thrash. I didn't think I was going to like it much, but it's hard to avoid the attraction of the energy and intensity.
Limbonautas - Salve S’lvio Surf Punk (Instrumental)
If metal were surf and surf was metal, than this would be the result. Heavy and very dark, this completely negative thrasher is so headbanger ugly that it's seductive. Yikes!
Maremotos - Surfista Anonimo Surf (Instrumental)
Rhythm dominated chunk with a splashy riff and glissandos. The structure is pure sixties, and the drive on the punk side.
Surf (Instrumental)
Is this the Los Coronas song? Pounding drums, ringing guitar tones, and a whole bunch of energy. "Maremoto" is not very melodic, but it's solid driving music, with rolling drums and hypnotic lead riffs to make the white lines melt together.
Surf Punk (Instrumental)
A car starts up and squeals off. The audio is not very good, with a thin distorted artificial sounding stereo sound, yet the punkoidal energy of the performance and thrash nature of the flying notes carries it off. "120" grows on you despite it all.
Surf Punk (Instrumental)
"Aloha, Pancho!" is a lovely sad instro with a decidedly spaghetti western melody and long ride home feeling. Picturesque and inviting, with the danger of the desert just over the horizon. Very cool!
Orestes Prezza - Octopunch Surf (Instrumental)
Great drums and bass and plucky guitar ride relentlessly beneath a spooky lead line. haunting and delicate, ringing and liquid silky, "Octopunch" is a real treat.
Trombone Punk (Instrumental)
This is a great track, with a dramatic introduction and haunting horn line. "L'@" is the standout track on the disc, with a catchy line and a soothing sound. Excellent!
Retrofoguetes - As Concubinas Mecanicas Do Dr. Karzov Surf Punk (Instrumental)
"As Concubinas Mecanicas Do Dr. Karzov" is big and murky in a demented dank cavern kinda way. The dangerous melody blends chord poundage and a sense of adventure in a very disturbed place. Lots of cool guitar tweakery and ominous imagery.
Retrofoguetes - O Avanco Da Robotica Space Spy (Instrumental)
Dissonant and angular, the plaintiff cry of "O Avanco Da Robotica" is on the downside of robot love. It's like a spy in the garage of night, where wayward robots rule.
The Surfmotherfuckers - Sadomasofucker Surf Punk (Instrumental)
The always impolite Surfmotherfuckers deliver a dark and demo-sounding rager. There are adventurous active panning moments that capture attention. It's melodic enough and very big.
The Surfmotherfuckers - El Duelo de Chiuauas Thick Intense Surf (Instrumental)
Dark surf 'n' spy danger in a gloomy setting, with interesting guitarisms and angular tone.