Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Vision - Now We Have A Colour Television
| If The Shadows, or more broadly, rautalanka interest you, I think you will find The Vision very satisfying. Rooted much more in rautalanka and The Shadows than surf, The Vision didn't really get to me. The musicianship and writing are excellent, but the CD is mostly in a genre that I don't really appreciate. Way too much track reverb to really feel what's going on here. The guitars are swimming in stereo reverb! The melody's quite good, and the drums excellent, but I found the rautalanka style overbearing.
Fans of the band and this genre that I've talked to really like this, so I'll defer to their judgment. |
Picks: Summer Kisses Winter Tears, Strange Things Happened On The Way To Memphis, Forbidden Pleasure, Viva America, Heartaches Unlimited, Blood On The Beach, Dead Man Talkin', End Of The World Is Canceled
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
The guitars are swimming in stereo reverb, though the melody is quite good, and the drums excellent. The rautalanka style of production got in the way of enjoying the song - it seemed overbearing.
Rock (Instrumental)
The sort of spaghetti melody played with throbbing tremolo is attractive. The arrangement doesn't really change much, leaving it seeming tedious despite very good playing and interesting writing. The tremolo chords are just superb.
Teleprompter Blues Rock (Instrumental)
This is a slightly bluesy track with excellent playing. The melody is almost playful, and the big chords endearing.
Day Off The Work Rock (Instrumental)
"Day Off The Work" is a rock instro with a light feeling and loud sound. Too much echo on the guitar hides the defined edges of the notes here.
Summer Kisses Winter Tears Rock (Instrumental)
This is a cool version of Elvis Presley's "Summer Kisses Winter Tears," with some tremolo and a fluid sound. More than just pleasant, its familiar melody and wash of sound are endearing.
Strange Things Happened On The Way To Memphis Surf (Instrumental)
"Strange Things Happened On The Way To Memphis" is more surfy than most on this album, with some very attractive elements. Its familiar melody engages immediately.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Forbidden Pleasure" has lots of surf about it, with muted second guitar, a surf beat, and whammy. Dark glissandos and an ominous sound cement a dangerous surf image.
Rock (Instrumental)
A fine melody riff cycles artfully atop a surf beat. parts of the melody are suggestive of other songs, but not derivative. Tom toms add adventure.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Viva America" is a fairly rousing number with an occasional double picked line. While the rhythm is surf, the melody does not sound or feel like surf. It is, nonetheless, an enjoyable track with just enough connection to allow it to slither into a surf set. I'm also unsure of the reason for the title, as it doesn't sound American at all. Perhaps that's unimportant.
Rock (Instrumental)
Mid tempo, with a fluid melody line and slow surf beat. "Heartaches Unlimited" is a very nice track with a loud sound. Very tasty track with a well written melody.
Surf (Instrumental)
Dark enough, with surf rhythms, and a surf melody line. "Blood On The Beach" is a strong track with engaging rhythms and cool whammy. A bit spooky at times, but mostly celebrating the struggle between man and sea as only surf music can capture it.
Rock (Instrumental)
On the spy side of the tracks, "Code I.D.0.5.9" moves at a modest pace with a gentle melody played loudly.
Surf (Instrumental)
Dry muted chord rhythm and dark ally lead tone and melody with a fine bass line present a dangerous image. A little too unchanging, but rooted in a great idea and big drama. The breaks are hauntingly ominous.
End Of The World Is Canceled Rock (Instrumental)
With a melody that reminds me somewhat of Laika and the Cosmonauts, "End Of The World Is Canceled" flows with relief and cautious optimism. Nice track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Tremolo shimmered and kind of weird in a space cadet bachelor pad sort of way. "The Music Played" has a pretty melody, but really did not keep my attention, and the keyboard or Theremin weirdness seemed distracting.
Apache Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fairly unusual cover of Jerry Lordan's "Apache," but that alone is not enough. Heavy guitar echo and a busy arrangement didn't help.