Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Twangy Guitars, Silky Strings Vol. 1 | Four Shadows inspired bands from Finland are featured on Volume 1 of the Twangy Guitars, Silky Strings series. If you're a Euro (Shadows) fan, you like this whole disc. If you're searching for surf, there are but a couple of surfable tracks for your pleasure. |
Picks: Twisted, The Mermaid, Surf In Tunisia, Morning Mood And The Mountain King, Wandering Star, Guaglione, Emma, F.B.I., Geronimo, Remember Me, (Ghost) Riders In The Sky, Horse Ride, Up And Go, Dreams, That Night, Wonderful
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
More or less a basic instro rock with surfable sensibilities, "Twisted" is just plain cool. The simple riff circulates over a surf beat with charm and liquid twang. Listed as track three on the tray card.
Euro (Instrumental)
"The Mermaid" is delivered in a smooth MOR Hank Marvin vein. It's pleasant, but unremarkable.
Surf (Instrumental)
Most likely inspired by Laika and the Cosmonauts' version of Dizzie Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia," the Needles do it somewhat differently, with a little less energy and more jazzy smoothness. "Surf In Tunisia" has a touch of surf to it. Listed as track 1 on the tray card.
Morning Mood And The Mountain King Rock (Instrumental)
Part one of Edvard Grieg's groovy "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" has lots of suave energy. It employs Hank Marvin tone, and it features great Ventures-esq drums. The second part moves slowly in a lower register with a gradually accelerating pace and pomposity. The chorus adds a touch of drama. With all the changes, it holds your attention for four minutes easily.
Wandering Star MOR Shadows (Instrumental)
The Diamonds' version of "Wandering Star" is right up Shadows alley. Soft and silky.
MOR Shadows (Instrumental)
"Guaglione" is on the spirited side, but never rises above the silky Shadows MOR vein. It's very well played and pretty, but doesn't really grab me.
MOR Shadows (Instrumental)
"Emma" sports a cool beat and an almost country slither to the Hank Marvin guitar styling. Pretty, and almost cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Shadows' rockin' "F. B. I.," which appeared in the US originally on the Atlantic release Surfing With The Shadows gets it's first almost surf treatment. The rhythm guitar is lightly reverbed and damped, and the ultra tape echo is not prominent on the lead. Bouncy and way cool.
Geronimo MOR (Instrumental)
"Geronimo" is a semi-Indian song from Hank Marvin. It's done with great reverence to the original.
MOR (Instrumental)
"Remember Me" is an original with a Shadows sound and an almost Italian vacation melody. Quite pretty.
(Ghost) Riders In The Sky Cowboy MOR (Instrumental)
A wholly new introduction launches Stan Jones' classic cowboy song in an arrangement that's in the Shadows vein mostly, but also is a tad country. Very nice.
MOR (Instrumental)
This traditional song is softly adventurous, with delicate echoed damped plucking here and there.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a spirited long echo sustain song with an uplifting lead guitar line played alternately on the low-E and high-E. The bridge to "Up And Go" is very similar to the bridge from the Insect Surfers' "Barricade Beach," which makes it almost surfable.
Dreams MOR (Instrumental)
"Dreams" is a soft and lush Marvin-esq instro. It flows and softly shines.
Rock (Instrumental)
High spirits and rock 'n' roll energy counter the long decay notes of "That Night." It's quite pleasant, with liquid guitar lines and great drums.
MOR (Instrumental)
This is a lush MOR Shadows inspired song with the traditional Fin guitar sound.