Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Death Valley - !Que Pasta!dotdotdotdot
artworkPlying pasta from the Texas dirt is the mission of Houston's Death Valley, not named for the California desert, but for a mythical place where dinosaurs roam, plundering Italian cowboys gone mad. Their sound is influenced by the spaghetti western themes of Enio Morricone, and merged with their own Texas roots. It's amply warped with surfisms, and rodeo roughriders. This is a solid CD.
Picks: A Fistful Of Pasta, Surfista Jam, El Conquistador, For A Few Dollars More, Cops And Robbers, Arnold's Wild Ride, The Morricone Express, Lammie Don't Surf, Suzi Sunshine, Beyond Metonga, Guns Don't Argue, Barkie, Death Valley Ride, The Larry Storch Song Trilogy, A Trail Of Dust In The Sunset

Track by Track Review


A Fistful Of Pasta dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Brilliant Italian cowboy surf, with speedy double picked leads and pasta scents. Melodic and powerful, with sidewalk cafe scenes and garlic hanging from every eve. Fun, funny, and delightful.

Surfista Jam dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Spread the "Surfista Jam" on thick, then eat open face for the most messy delight. Riff driven, thick and surfy, and moody.

El Conquistador dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Thick chords drive the cows across the plain, the rolling drums carry the chuck wagon to the next encampment, and the fine melody speaks of solitude and open spaces. This is a really nice track, picturesque and melodic, and very enjoyable.

For A Few Dollars More dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Enio Morricone's most excellent spaghetti western theme. This is somewhat like the Rare Bird version, but more open countrified than that. The smell of sage brush and outlaw cigars is in the wind. Pure pasta for the desert longboarder.

Cops And Robbers dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Excellent double picked power surge with swimming whammy and rhythmic percussion. Dramatic and dark, chunky and moody. It uses a very simple riff very effectively.

Arnold's Wild Ride dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Harmonics and moody scenes, very melodic and exceptionally pretty. The melody is very friendly, staying with you long after listening.

The Morricone Express dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Dedicated to the man, the progenitor of the spaghetti western genre, Enio Morricone. This is a powerful and rhythmic piece, with excellent double picked guitar and ringing chords. Infectious and pure fettucini Alfredo.

Lammie Don't Surf dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

A cowboys homage to the rising surf, longing with excellent warm guitar tones for the curl, content with the waves of grain across the fruited plane. This is a very good track.

Suzi Sunshine dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Semi psychedelic melody line, ringing chords, and a rhythmic structure. This is a very endearing tune, not exactly whistleable, but definitely memorable and fun.

Beyond Metonga dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Tribal drums, dark chords, and a spaghetti western melody create surf scenery with drama and flair.

Guns Don't Argue dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Enio Morricone's tune well arranged and ringing with rotini guitar. The melody shimmers with vibrato and double picking. The galloping cowboy rhythm section is perfectly scored.

Barkie dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Shimmering vibrato melody lines fluidly spread across the horizon. The open space feel is very pleasing. It's the sorta melody that you can hum while waiting in line at McDonalds to pass the time.

Death Valley Ride dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Gentle sad and ringing, this is a starkly pretty tune, like Love's "Mushroom Clouds" or "A Message To Pretty." It has a forlorned but optimistic sound.

The Larry Storch Song Trilogy dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Western (Instrumental)

This fine instro drives home the spaghetti western ethic, using rolling percussion and a solid melody. It has the sadness and the beat, and all the dry air required for the genre. The guitar tone compliments the melody well.

A Trail Of Dust In The Sunset dotdotdot
Spaghetti Western Surf (Instrumental)

Raging cactus a la marinara, moody and dramatic, with ringing tones and a scenic feel.