Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Surfing Spacemen - Mental Pictures
 | This is CD number two from Finland's Surfing Spacemen. It's quite different from the first, more polished and farther into the go-go scene. Images of bachelor pads and space age spy films abound. Some very good writing and arranging, coupled with strong musicianship and interesting blends of sounds. |
Picks: Go Hammonds, Go, Super-Fly, Naked City, Island Of Bob-To, Immemorial, Waves, Satellite Beeps, Linoleum, Ergo Spega Extrobasa, Jamaican Root Canal, Swingin' Beatniks, Mr. Agent, No Questions Asked, Soho, Hard Labour, Saved By The Bell
Track by Track Review
Go Go (Instrumental)
"Go Hammonds, Go" is a light, almost fluffy track with cool drums. The organ and guitar balance with the keys being the focus and the guitar playing damped note accents. A fine beat and infectious go-go melody. Polished and playful.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Seventies blacksploitation guitar chops and chords, and a dark guitar give way to a liquid polish. Very smooth and friendly.
Go Go (Instrumental)
A little drama and a little moodiness, and a shimmer of the shadows. Espionage guitar licks over a pumping organ. Pretty cool.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Light hearted fun at the traveling side show. A big adventure.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Great piano tones drip prog over a fine bass line and liquid guitar. This is a very pretty and well written track. It lures you into a grassy knoll where life runs in slow motion. Very nice.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Slowly moving in and out like a lake's edge, this organ track is dramatic and floating. A little proggy, yet not ethereal.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Bouncy rhythms and playful guitar lay down a jazz age adventure in top down escapades. Inventive and fun.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Yikes, a song about flooring... and it's not even Pergo. Very tasty piano and bass interplay, which provide a slightly disturbed view.
Go Go (Instrumental)
MOR moods and pretty floating images. Toys dance in your head while the river of life subsides. Nearly surf guitar tone and an unusual arrangement.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Fast rude boy reggae bounce and an organ lead for the fun of it. An interesting variation of the reggae theme, merged wit a carnival air. Interesting and fun too.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Beatniks... long gone from the scene, allergic to work, waiting for the dole to make them safe. Hipsters prance while workers pay the toll. These tensions intermingle here with ease and fluidity.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Mrs. Agent's little boy, all grown up with his own trench coat full of gadgets. The world's not what it seems, and this tune displays the deception for all to hear.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Shimmering guitar floats out a liquid melody line over a plodding backtrack. Gently it flows, looking for an easy outlet to the sea. Very pretty.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Stylin' with British flair, darting from alleyway to underground like a shutter bug in Antonioni land. Shiny and playful, but a little guarded.
Go Go (Instrumental)
"Hard Labour" has an interesting melody played on a nicely effected guitar. It's surfy, spacy, and a little unnerving. maybe the best track here, it bounces and shimmers like waves at the edge of the continent from 5 miles up. Very nice track.
Go Go (Instrumental)
Slow and watery, silky and a little bizarre. "Saved By The Bell" dodges the serious consequences of the night by laughing at danger. No, it's not the theme to the long running TV series.