Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Anacondas - Club Vegas



 | This must be a fine band to see live. Rock solid surf based instros with plenty of inventive musicianship and charm. This is a live recording, with yakking punters and sometimes less than discrete instruments. Still, the sound is better than many recordings like this, and the band is very good. Even the covers are uniquely arranged, especially the Clash's "The Guns Of Brixton" and the Ventures' "The Ninth Wave." Worth seeking out. |
Picks: The Anaconda Twist, Freedom Fighter, The Guns Of Brixton, Gypsy Queen, El Ninjo, Marabunta, Creature From Outerspace, Snake Beach, The 9th Wave, Timebomb
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
"The Anaconda Twist" is a riff rockin' chunky number designed to warm up the band. The flute lead in the break is priceless, like it's straight out of the Pachuko Soul genre.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Freedom Fighter" is double picked, but not melodic. It's surfy all right, but more like an exercise than a song. The grodie guitar break is inspired, and the playing top drawer. maybe it hints of spies and the cold war, or maybe it just rocks.
Surf (Instrumental)
It's more than a little interesting that the Clash's "The Guns Of Brixton" could be surfed up. The flute lead is incredible, and the surf chords behind it bring charm to this beach friendly track. Big fuzz break, lots of trashy charm, and quite refreshing. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Eastern European gypsy influences permeate the strong melody line, and the rhythm powerful and mysterious. An excellent track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Murky and dark, "El Ninjo" menaces the calm with a distant guitar and disastrous tropical flow. Extra cool are the damped super high notes in the break. If this were well cut, it would be a great track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Marabunta" sports a rumbly spy sound with a pulsing vibrato hi note relentlessly riding over the top of the low-E lead. Intense and dangerous, this threatens at every turn.
Surf (Instrumental)
Green eyed critters coming for you. Relentless screams, vibrato threats, whistling keys, and many strange sounds. A simple riff rock structure, with very intense echoed flute and early Pink Floyd chunk.
Surf (Instrumental)
The ocean breaks on an island shore, slithery reptiles wriggle from the water to the beach, and danger lurks at the water's edge. This is a well crafted song, with a solid melody line and an ominous feel.
Surf (Instrumental)
Here we have a big thrashy ultra fuzz grind approach to the Ventures' "The Ninth Wave." Hard chunky fuzz, great drums, solid thundering bass. The flighty keyboard break takes a sharp left turn, but soon enough the fuzz is back for a big finale. Interesting cover. The ultra vibrato fuzz that follows the break is intense! Double picking, surf tone, square wave fuzz, and spooky ominosity.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Avengers VI's "Time Bomb" (credited to the Bomboras) is crunchy and darkly reverbed. The arrangement adds to the tune with its telegraphic tone and dark reverb.