Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Rick Lawndale Band - Natasha c/w Surfin' Herman
 | Two more demos from Rick Lawndale, this time more in a classic instro vein. Lawndale has always been able to write well crafted instros that are durable and engaging. Of particular note here is "Surfin' Herman." I suppose one day we will see a commercial CD release from Rick's band. |
Picks: Natasha, Surfin' Herman
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A catchy progression in the rock instro mold, with a thick sound and moderate energy. The melody line to "Natasha" sounds like a throwback to the eighties surf revival in some ways, but is beefier and more surf-appropriate. It has a familiar feel, while not being derivative.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Surfin' Herman" has a haunting melody line that's a little Indian and exotic. Cool and inviting, but a bit sad. The shimmer of the vibrato, the edge of the distortion, coupled with the smoothness of the bass and the minimal but perfectly arranged drums bring together everything required for a great instro. I like this a lot.