Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Martin Schmidt's previous CD's just hinted at what would happen with a band. The Razorblades are the fulfillment of that promise. There are some very fine tracks here, wit big and powerful, yet delicate and fluid sounds. Quite a fine CD.

Picks: Fasten Seatbelts, Into The Big Blue, Jellyfish Race, The Man In The Green Suit, Hacksurfbrett, Wake Up Rude Boy! It's Surfin' Time, Kleiner Mann, Was Nunp, Tiki Dog, I'm In Love With An Octopus, The Autobahn Man, Teenage Dance Party, Hermann's Mambo, Cooler Strassenkreuzer, Sputnik, Eternity

Surf (Instrumental)

Fast and furious aggressive modern surf loaded with fire and glissando mayhem, and fronted by a strong melody line and a large supply of energy! Totally cool and rambunctious. Great drums, solid bass, and electric fire in the guitar. It's also very nicely produced.

Surf (Instrumental)

A moody melody is laid out in a stereo wash of reverberation. Lots of fire and splash and a big storm surf of sparkle. "Into The Big Blue" is a very unusual song!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Jellyfish Race" is dark and thunderous, with a tuff surf chop and great melody line, amped up by glissandoes and twang. It's a big song with depth and power. Hard driving and gutty, with pummeling waves everywhere.

Surf (Instrumental)

This slower song is on the spy side of the aisle, with a moody Euro melody line and haunting guitar. I"The Man In The Green Suit" is both beautiful and powerful, with slight sense Nirvana gone tube rider. Soaring guitar rises above the gloomy underbelly.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is sort of angular and mathematical, like the curl converted into a code of ones and zeros. No, it's not binary, but it is complex and deliberate. The surf guitar break is quite fine!

Surf (Instrumental)

Nope, not ska... "Wake Up Rude Boy! It's Surfin' Time" is an upbeat number with an optimistic sound and style. Rock solid, flashy and splashy, with a catchy sound. I like this a lot, kinda like a post modern surf variation on the charm and style of "Rik-A-Tik."

Surf (Instrumental)

Yikes! This is B-I-G in the opening. Double picked guitar, a moody melody line, and a sense of drama. There are playful parts, dramatic parts, moody parts, and fluid parts. Mediterranean and Spanish surf is written all over "Kleiner Mann, Was Nunp." A fine song!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Tiki Dog" is surf all the way, flashy and solid, with a fine riff and tuff sound. There's an island feel, a curl crashing sense, and a bit of danger. Great composition!

Surf (Instrumental)

Large twang and liquid scenes pour from the introduction to "I'm In Love With An Octopus," which is a rhythmic track with great damped rhythm guitar and a sparkling modern surf riff. Infectious in an endearing way, with rich production.

Surf (Instrumental)

"The Autobahn Man" is motion oriented, but not in the open road high speed way. It chunks and tours like a curvy coastal road with plenty of obstacles. Very cool!

Surf (Instrumental)

The rhythm of "Teenage Dance Party" is smooth and very friendly. The melody line is built on it, with a bit of a last dance feel as it might be inspired by an edgy Shadows sound.

Surf (Instrumental)

Twango and damped plucking reverbed mambo suave... "Hermann's Mambo" is playful and seductive, without being light weight. The double picked lines depict long tubes well.

Surf (Instrumental)

Almost orchestral in feel, "Cooler Strassenkreuzer" is a choppy rhythm piece with a flowing echoed lead guitar in the European tradition. An interesting combination of choppiness and long sustain.

Surf (Instrumental)

Echoed richness and drama tell of satellites overhead. "Sputnik" is not very surf of melody, except for the glissandoes, but yet it has the feel of storm surf on a rocky coastline.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a long and flowing piece of music that is like an amped up island voyage. Picturesque, inviting, slightly dramatic, and nicely arranged, "Eternity" is like a vacation with relaxation with tension... that sounds contradictory, but the loudness of the lead guitar and thickness of the bass, along with the strong drums, contrast against a pretty fluid melody with many scenic changes, creates a juxtaposed sound and vision. There are lines borrowed from Hendrix and nods to the power of the electric guitar. A very cool track!