Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Diamondheads - S/Tdotdotdotdot
artworkThis CD-R contains three rough mixes for an album in progress, and ten performances recorded live 6/14/01. With a such a strong surf sound and excellent playing, the Diamondheads need to get moving with this album. Covers are few and in most cases rearranged significantly enough to give them a fresh face. Look for a fine release one day soon.
Picks: Faithful To The Surf, Hammerhead, Waving, Surf West, Young Man, Diamond Head, English Channel Surfing, Home Alone, Midnight, Cry For A Shadow, Bonehead, Steel Trap, Calhoun Surf, Ruff Ryder

Track by Track Review


Faithful To The Surf dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"O Come All Ye Faithful" becomes a warm surf romp at the hands of the Diamondheads. Very reverent, and very surf, employing a fresh arrangement and inviting sound.

Hammerhead dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Hammerhead" features a catchy riff and rhythm, with driving drums and pure surf bass. While it's riff based, it's very pleasing and infectious. A little like a lost Pyramids tune, with guts and whammy.

Waving dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Soft and slow, this liquid evening groove uses soft slow whammy chords and reverb to lull the night into providing a romantic backdrop. Very pretty and islandic.

Surf West, Young Man dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This spaghetti western is twangy and cool, with big whammy. Its melody line is related to "Secret Agent Man," like might have happened if Enio Morricone had written that TV spy theme.

Diamond Head dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

So, how could you not expect the Diamondheads to cover the Ventures' "Diamond Head?" Tight and reverby, and with bigger whammy than the V-boys employed.

English Channel Surfing dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The "Walk Don't Run" drum intro leads to a refreshingly cool melody with big twang and whammy, and a warm inviting sound. A fine track.

Home Alone dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Grumbly and ominous, "Home Alone" twangs with an almost spaghetti spy feel. Quite a nice melody.

Midnight dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a splendid cover of the Shadows' "Midnight," played in an almost Sleep Walk arrangement, with reverbed and echoed guitar.

Cry For A Shadow dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The Diamondheads do nice things to "Cry For A Shadow," giving it surf credentials without undoing the Hamburg ambiance. Aside from Los Straitjackets, Susan and the SurfTones, and the Ventures, no one seems to cover the only Beatles instro.

Bonehead dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Bonehead" sports a fine damped bridge, a sparkling melody line, some strong guitar work, and a solid beat. Mid tempo, sporting rich intense whammy, and dedicated to the proposition that a liquid melody is the essence of surf music. A bit ominous, yet quite inviting.

Steel Trap dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Link Wray's "Steel Trap" twanged and reverbed into dangerous surf. A solid cover.

Calhoun Surf dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The Overtones' "Calhoun Surf" gets the liquid reverb treatment, within an otherwise very reverent arrangement. Some guitar morphology evolves the melody into something more mysterious. Very smooth!

Ruff Ryder dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Cowboy twang and a cactus beat, whammified into a ride along the fence line.