Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Planet Seven - 6 Songs / Oct '99
 | These six demo tracks from San Francisco's most adventurous surf based band take their debut CD one step further in both maturity and craftsmanship. They all ended up in significantly remixed form on Planet Seven's second CD titled The Tomorrow That Never Was. I'm always fascinated by the evolution of songs in the recording process. As an engineer, I often listen through the ears of producer, so when I get a chance to hear raw material like this and guess at its final mix, I always take it. I liked this material, and had a few ideas, but what Steve Perrone, with the help of Wally Sound (the Thongs), did with these and the other tracks on the new album is nothing short of stunning. |
Picks: Point and Shoot, Heart Full Of Soul, A Great Divide, Lost on Valencia, Jack Scratch, Let's Dust
Track by Track Review
Space Surf (Instrumental)
A solid melody line fluidly leading a big whammy surf crunch adventure into the outer reaches. The intensity and drive of this track are quite good. Exceptionally solid, and uniquely placed in space and time. This rough mix only hints at the promise delivered with the final mix on The Tomorrow That Never Was.
Space Surf (Instrumental)
This is mighty tasty treatment of the classic Yardbirds track. It straddles surf and psych, retains the rhythmic Yardbirds attack, enhanced with fluid surf guitar played with jazz flair. This rough draft is not as rich as the album version, is missing the space feel, and sounds more jazzy and light weight. Quite a nice track.
Space Surf (Instrumental)
This track is dramatic and eerie, pushed and twangy, and crisp. The melody line is interesting, and the rhythm is appropriately supportive. Slightly sad, gracefully European, surfingly fluid, and accented with glorious whammy chords. Espionage on the high seas.
Space Surf (Instrumental)
With hints of exotic pop seasoning the surf mix, this track is well developed and adventurous. The horns add a mariachi feel, and the serious delivery gives it a sad and picturesque sound. Artful, but not at all pompous.
Space Surf (Instrumental)
Quirky funky and jagged, with a distorted view of the spy game. Swimming pool whammy and shiny chords, with a nut house soft underbelly of the secret service sound. Angular and stilted, deliberate and unnerving.
Space Surf (Instrumental)
This intense track drives hard, with theremin wailings and crunchy rhythms. Thundering percussion under a fluid guitar line gives it a dark and menacing sci-fi sub culture feel. Quite cool.