Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Blue Horizon - Electric Winterland
 | This is a Christmas CD from Japan's second great surf band, the Blue Horizon. Strongly Ventures influenced, it has much more drive and crunch than the V-boys exude, and deeper reverb too. An excellent release, with many non Christmas tracks as well. |
Picks: The Christmas Song, Blue Christmas, Electric Winterland, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus In Space, The Bell That Couldn't Jingle, Violet Sky, Long Time A Go-Go, Snow Boarder / Movin', Freezer, Sweetheart, The Christmas Medley
Track by Track Review
Post Ventures Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures' "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" arrangement of this classic Yule Tide tune is more punchy than the V-boys, with a much more reverbed second guitar.
Post Ventures Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
Big overdriven crunch with chunky reverb glissandoes in a post Ventures arrangement. The Elvi never had so much spunk. Darn cool.
Post Ventures Surf (Instrumental)
This is a driving fool of a track... thick with guitars and power, and too much jammin' fun. Excellent.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Post Ventures Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
Big guitar drive and Saint Nick's fave reindeer make for a thick and crunchy swimming Yule. Mighty strong track, nearly monstrous.
Post Ventures Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
A launch sequence opens this semi "Telstar" like tune, with its fine melody line and great drums. Intense and powerful.
The Bell That Couldn't Jingle Post Ventures Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
"The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" is a Burt Bacharach song, smurphed into a joyous guitar flood with tasteful keys. Very infectious.
Post Ventures Surf (Instrumental)
This is a great track, with a solid beat, a thumpin' bass line, and a very good melody line. The organ takes the break, but otherwise it's guitar heaven. Thumpy, extra distorted, surf laden, and very cool.
Post Ventures Surf (Instrumental)
"Long Time A Go-Go" is a solid Ventures like tune, with a good melody line and great drums. Compressed guitar with distortion and whammies, accented by some fine timbales or bongos... a fine track.
Post Ventures Surf (Instrumental)
This is brilliant. It's a merger between Lee Hazelwood's "Movin'" and the Pyramids' "Contact" with a great damped reverb surf rhythm track. The playing and sound are totally infectious. Pure trad joy. Very strong.
Post Rick and the Ravens Surf (Instrumental)
Ugly fuzz bass under a "Light My Fire" inspired organ riff and a cold wind blowing. The big guitar is a little fuzzy and reverbed. It's an infectious track, with an almost side show feel. Great drums, and lot's of open road coolness.
Post Ventures MOR (Instrumental)
This nearly MOR track is very smooth and pretty, romantic in a floating way. Nicely played.
Post Ventures Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
Kids screaming, and then Ventures style rhythms underpin a solid medley of "Sleigh Ride" / "Jingle Bell Rock" / "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." Warm and whammified, swimming with marshmallow thrills.