Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Archie and the V2's - Ghost Riders
 | The Archie and the V-2's are from Port Townsend, Washington. This release has some cross over with their initial offering, and continues the ultra murky super reverb bathroom sound, which strangely adds to the mostly Russian melodies. Just too cool to miss out on. |
Picks: Ghost Rider, La Rosa Negra, Captured Bride, Stenka Rasin, Volga Twist, Lost Planet, Autumn Leaves, Perfidia, H. K., L' Eclisse Twist, Ammore Mio, Martinique, Two Guitars, Juokshuhauta Twist, Ghost Rider
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Ultra dark and twangy, "Ghost Rider" uses echo and reverb and murky ambiance to add low-E menace to this very pretty Brahms melody. Richly rewarding and garage cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
The crowd boos and grumbles as Archie and the V-2's take the stage. Ultra trashy dark surf thrash murks its way through the halls. "La Rosa Negra" is mean and yet sadly beautiful - in a gymnasium sorta way. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Reportedly from the Russian film Trapped Caucasian Girl, this melodic and trashy track flows with liquid coolness through a dark alley at the back of your imaginary mind. "Captured Bride" reverberates off the walls with fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
The melody of this traditional sing is not just friendly, it's Duane Eddy on a 9'6" cool. Echo and very low-E rumble and whammy dips, with boomin' low end and rolling drums. The double picked balalaika-like guitar parts are quite nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
This traditional Russian melody is rendered ultra splashy with drive and power. Infectious and powerful, and the waves in St. Petersburg imagery is quite cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
Self described as a "Telstar" wannabe song, the organ is swirly vibrato laden mall driven for an even cheesier effect. Normally, I don't like this sort of song, but this is quite cool. Throbby and murky, and like an inverted MOR space hymn.
Surf (Instrumental)
Throbbing vibrato guitar carries the lead as Archie and the V-2's take it from it's pop origins and drag it kicking and screaming into the snow covered night of Moscow. A really cool and unusual treatment.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Perfidia" a.k.a. "Come Back" sports some really cool Venturisms in a murky surf in the gym sound that makes this seem almost mystical. Way cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
"H. K." a.k.a. "Hiljainen Kylatie" is a swell eastern kinda song, with a moody melody line and a watery depth and twang.
Surf (Instrumental)
Fusco's "Eclipse" is a variation on a Mediterranean sounding number, perhaps Armenian. The melody is cool and playful, and the pumping organ adds a childlike quality to the track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Heavily echoed damped guitar a la the Shadows and twangy reverb carry "Ammore Mio" to melodic depths of moody waves of twangy grass. Excellent fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Martin Denny's classy "Martinique" is liquefied and ultra reverbed into a fluid journey across a long glassy wall at sunset. This is a very sultry track despite the murky ambiance.
Surf (Instrumental)
This traditional tune is all decked out in a super reverb Ventures arrangement, with lots of whammy and fluid lines. Double picking and echo and springs... what more is needed to convert a classic into a surf tune.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Juokshuhauta Twist" (pronounced You-Aux-Her-Woo-Ta - really!) is a rockin' number with fine drum work and a splashy Russian feel. Really interesting, and moody too.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an alternate version version of the opening track, but with "less surf flavor," that is to say, it's a little less drenched in murky bathroom reverb. Big twang and ultra coolness abound.