Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Longboard Ranch - Rides Againdotdotdotdotdot
artworkThis second release from Longboard Ranch is very consistent in quality, writing, and performance. Its muted rhythms are pure vintage surf, and the melodies ring with period accuracy. Twenty five fine surf instros in three guitar arrangements that make the rhythm all powerful. Splendid.
Picks: Heartbreak Reef, Hurricane Swell, Ghosts At The Ranch, Midnight Cruise, Mr. Quench, Killer Zuma, Crawlin' Blades, Code Red, Swami's Reef, Runaway Surf, Last Wave Of Summer, Rolling Swells, Bejal, Malibu Midnight, Apache, Rincon Revel, Eternal Surf, Lovin' A Wahine, Spaghetti Western, Point Peril, Tidal Swell, Tyranous, The Savage, Longboard Ranch, Spanish Blue

Track by Track Review


Heartbreak Reef dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

From a gently lapping shore break, "Heartbreak Reef" rises with lush reverb, but soon emerges with pure surf. As if written 40 years ago, its structure and melody, along with the muted reverb rhythm, project the optimism of a better tomorrow. A very fine track.

Hurricane Swell dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The danger of the storm surge, and the turmoil of the surf are in evidence in "Hurricane Swell." It's a dark and ominous piece with great tone and rhythm.

Ghosts At The Ranch dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Deep throated rhythm and tribal drums pump up a very traditionally styled melody. Echo is added to the reverb, along with string swipes for a Ventures kinda feel.

Midnight Cruise dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Midnight Cruise" is a fun track with a familiar progression and elements from a number of surfbands, including the Super Stocks and the Eliminators. Well written and very period, with a melody progression that's more than a little familiar.

Mr. Quench dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a somewhat ominous track with a bit of a spy edge atop semi-monster surf. Great reverb and charm, with a slightly sad melody line.

Killer Zuma dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Killer Zuma" is a rhythmic and chunky song with an attractively dark melody and frantic rhythm. Gloomy circulating riffs offset by ringing chords and optimistic breaks. Perhaps inspired by the Chantays' "Killer Dana" title wise, but there the comparison ends.

Crawlin' Blades dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This mid tempo song uses a slightly bluesy melody line, though it's surely a long way from the blues. Pessimistic, almost morose, "Crawlin' Blades" runs on a relentless damped rhythm like a good surf intro should. Haunting and compelling.

Code Red dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

With a psi-fi weirdness and spy ethic, "Code Red" is unsettling in melody and comforting in rhythm. A lick or two from James Bond completes the espionage picture.

Swami's Reef dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This updating of "Swami's Reef" is splendid, with a more cohesive sound than the original, but the same exotic imagery. This song was brought forward by Loyd Davis from his earlier band the Surf Raiders.

Runaway Surf dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Dribbling reverb and a circular riff right out of the early days of surf. "Runaway Surf" is so much more about the rhythm than the melody, which is just fine. Its muted rhythm is almost hypnotic. Great drums and solid bass are essential to the workings of this track. Very cool.

Last Wave Of Summer dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Summery and island oriented, with great surf rhythm and drums, "Last Wave Of Summer" is a vacation happy kind of song that's sunset-ready and very pleasurable, but without being the least bit sappy. Very nice!

Rolling Swells dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The double picked guitar seems to rise and fall through the riff like the rolling of the swells the song takes its name from. "Rolling Swells" is both pretty and dangerous, delicate and powerful.

Bejal dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Bejal" is a happy song with some references to "The Swami" and the Super Stocks. Very cool glissandoes and string swipes, excellent melody and rhythm. It has a gentle sort of intensity that's very pleasing.

Malibu Midnight dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Heavy surf rhythm moodily runs under a great melody line with fine whammy chords. If there's a track on this disc that most epitomizes vintage surf, this is it. One rhythm guitar is vibrato, one muted reverb, and the lead is long in reverb sustain, a formula that the Astronauts understood.

Apache dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a relative straight treatment of Jerry Lordan's best known composition, with the arrangement based on the American hit by Jorgen Ingmann, but with much more tribal drums and lots of rich surf reverb. Many covers of "Apache" are are little more than copies, but Longboard Ranch really made it so much cooler than that.

Rincon Revel dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A long glissando opens "Rincon Revel," a song with a fast double picked lead guitar line over muted reverb rhythm. The break is borrowed from "Penetration" perhaps, but that only gives it a familiar feeling. Very nice track.

Eternal Surf dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a very slow and silky track, like an "Endless Summer" kind of epic, but perhaps a little more sundown-like. The orange glow of the sun as the horizon overtakes at day's end is obvious as you listen to "Eternal Surf." Very nice!

Lovin' A Wahine dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A bit of a rough glissando opens a splendid intro with a fine melody line and pumping rhythm. The break is a bit jammy, but the rhythm keeps it on track. The melody line is engaging.

Spaghetti Western dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A prancing cowboy rhythm supports a western melody that's entire fun. The whole idea here seems to be rich surf and cactus combined for a romp on a Texas beach. Very good! Maybe one of the more innocent yet serious cowboy surf instros, "Spaghetti Western" is very surf and very American cowboy, and not very Italian western.

Point Peril dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A circular melody riff and surf rhythm track right out of days gone by, "Point Peril" is like a next step in the evolution of the Super Stocks tempered by early Boss Martians. Right in the pocket.

Tidal Swell dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Like a hipper cousin to "Hawaii Five-0," this is more surf and less TV, though similar in concept. The execution is ure surf, and the overall affect engaging. An excellent track.

Tyranous dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Big and dangerous, "Tyranous" sports drama and moody hazards. Thick in spots, and always ominous. Not quite like surfing dinosaurs, but almost. Disquieting enough, and quite original.

The Savage dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

One of the Shadows' most often covered songs, "The Savage" is converted to a genuine surf instro, while retaining its British heritage. Not quite as cool as the Space Cossacks version, but certainly very good.

Longboard Ranch dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This namesake song is sorta cowboy, sorta oriental, and very cool. The happy rhythm and the moody melody line work very well. "Longboard Ranch" is infectious and simply fun.

Spanish Blue dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The Aqua Velvets' "Spanish Blue" is reinvented into a real surf burner. Great damped surf rhythm completely changes this song, yet the emotional content is retained. Excellent!