Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Hypnomen - Supersonicodotdotdotdot
artworkContinuing to make big noises in a cavernous hall, the Hypnomen creates some of the best writing and performing, buried under indistinct lo-fi to moderately good sound. The songs are powerful, the energy high, and the sincerity clear. Mean vibrato trash instros, ominous and edgie! There's a lot of Link Wray influence in this CD. A very strong band in need of a good recording session. All in all, a good CD - one of very few lo-fi issues I would recommend.
Picks: Back In The Cage, Medication-A-Go-Go, Brainwasher, Panorama Red, Death Came From Durango, Vernon Is Crying, Bwana Huevo, Morfoman, Zipgun, Won Ton Hop, Psycho From Ipanima, Delinquente, Blue Dervish, Bamboola, The Urge

Track by Track Review


Back In The Cage dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Vibrato fuzz evil mean progression, delivered in a big truck.

Medication-A-Go-Go dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A nifty big hall bass sound and vibrato guitar. like listening to Link Wray from down the hall.

Brainwasher dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Big, howling, eerie, and oh-so cool! A big guitar track with Big Myke Destiny in mind.

Panorama Red dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A fine tune with a warbly guitar tone. Melodic and entertaining. Cool vibes.

Death Came From Durango dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A giant choppy Bo Diddley chicken bop backdrop supports great stereo and nice lead work via a vibrato melody line.

Vernon Is Crying dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Slow evil fuzz vibrato Link Wray in a ditch number. Huge. Major sustain.

Bwana Huevo dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A choppy number, with toms pounding and fuzz cranking out in a cool vibrato. More an American Indian theme than African (Bwana) or Spanish (Huevo). Does that mean Friendly Egg?

Morfoman dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A double picked faster spy tune with great flair. Infectious and cool.

Zipgun dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A Link-like Middle Eastern mysterious thing - very cool melody. Moody!

Won Ton Hop dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Very thin sound with a big performance lurking somewhere in it's shadow.

Psycho From Ipanima dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

It's got that fast paces spy across the street sound. A bit jazzy. Very nice song poorly recorded.

Delinquente dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Bluesy and chunky with great drums, cool vibrato, and fiery guitar work.

Blue Dervish dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A big warbly Link Wray-like song with shimmer and panache. It invokes images of tribal lagoons and ritual luaus with shrunken heads on poles at the perimeter.

Bamboola dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Shimmer and Hawaiian luau fun. Fifties exotica in a garage. I love it! Totally infectious.

The Urge dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"The Urge" is very very Bottle Ups like. Shimmer and Hawaiian luau fun. Fifties exotica in a garage. I love it! Totally infectious.