Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Alan Jenkins and the Thurston Lava Tube - Free Surf Music #3
 | This is the third radically experimental surf based creation from Alan Jenkins and the Thurston Lava Tube. More well crafted tracks, more angular discomfort, and jazz influences. This is not an album you can buttonhole, nor is it for the unadventurous or trad fan. |
Picks: Deer and Antelope in Las Vegas part one, Deer and Antelope in Las Vegas part two, Dick, SOABC (a), The Slow Fat Pudding Explodes Naked, Grand Central, I Walk The Lion, Talking Cat, Badly Painted Cheese, What Moose?, Harry E., Erotic Poetry, Deploy the Frog Exaggerator!, The Governor's Beach
Track by Track Review
Deer and Antelope in Las Vegas part one Surf (Instrumental)
Disjointed and angular, like an experimental jazz jam, "Deer and Antelope In Las Vegas Part One" gradually builds a coalition among the instruments, finally resulting in a punishing drum driven sax rant.
Deer and Antelope in Las Vegas part two Surf (Instrumental)
Disjointed and angular, like an experimental jazz jam, "Deer and Antelope In Las Vegas Part One" gradually builds a coalition among the instruments, finally resulting in a punishing drum driven sax rant.
Surf (Instrumental)
A brief bedtime story introduction yields to strong drums and a "Penetration" bass line under ringing chords and an unnerving melody line that's just shy of Red Rock West on a stormy day. Grodie psychedelic EchoPlex slapback gives "Dick" a mentally unbalanced edge. It crashed to a close with horses galloping.
Surf (Instrumental)
Brief echoed flute strangeness a la the Blues Projects' "Flute Thing.".. an interlude between tracks. Originally issued as "SOABC/i>," which means "Section Of A Beetle's Cuticle."
The Slow Fat Pudding Explodes Naked Surf (Instrumental)
"The Slow Fat Pudding Explodes Naked" is a solid surf instro with an uplifting melody line and pummeling drums. Excellent reverb guitar and energy, and a catchy riff.
Surf (Instrumental)
Eerie organ and distant drums herald metropolis rising in the east. Shimmering surf guitar gradually floats to the top with a shimmering vibrato melody. After an interlude of a runaway EchoPlex, a slow guitar piece emerges that's moody and disturbing. Not satisfied, "Grand Central" moves yet again into an optimistic section where the future is bright, before dropping into a mid tempo froth. Eventually, a sixties jazz-psych jam erupts, enhanced with reverb. Then, a sludge fest of haunted guitar echoes and moody scenes. Coming out the other side of a frightened night, dawn spreads light upon the shadows. At eleven minutes, it's very experimental, and quite interesting.
Surf (Instrumental)
Bouncy and direct, "I Walk The Lion" is a sunny afternoon carefree surf instro with a groovy melody line and an infectious open road beat. Nice stuff!
Surf (Instrumental)
Highly rhythmic and damped chop driven, "Talking Cat" is dramatic and open ended. Surf and highway meet in this adventure in travel and miscreant felines. Theremin warbles add a sense of the bizarre.
Surf (Instrumental)
A looped discussion of how badly a paint job was done introduces "Badly Painted Cheese." Jazz drums end the interlude with a tight segue into "What Moose?"
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a sort of film score scene piece, with a spy edge and sci-fi twist. Lots of changes, interesting psychedelic drums, dribbling guitars, and a power saw direction. Structurally, it reminds me a bit of DC period Insect Surfers, but texturally, it's more angular and improvisational.
Harry E. Surf (Instrumental)
Angular disquieting piano sets up an unnatural scene...
Erotic Poetry Surf (Instrumental)
Drums and sped up poetry... drums and female erotic poetry... like beat poetry for a more direct generation.
Deploy the Frog Exaggerator! Surf (Instrumental)
"Deploy the Frog Exaggerator!" is a pretty unusual track. Ringing chords, manic drums, long notes, sax squanks, a simple riff, and jazz inversions.
Surf (Instrumental)
Vibrato shimmer, soft ocean lapping the shore, slow moody scenes... "The Governor's Beach" is soft and pretty in a sad sorta way. Not exactly a lagoon kinda tune, but definitely a sunset after a trying day transition piece.