Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Barbwires - Sounds Like Trouble
 | This 2001 release is full of interesting blends of rockabilly and surf in instrumental form. Plenty to sink your teeth into, and not like other bands. The Barbwires werre a Swedish surfband featuring two ex-member of the Punchdrunks, Robert Johnson's fine band. |
Picks: Ms Riptide Rpm, At The Skyline Drive-In, Sockitome, Crazy Kooters, Blue Java, Let Em Out!, He Took A Ride (A Little Too Far), The Biggest Wave, Jo-Jo, Mojo, Bullets Won't Kill It, Coffin Ride, The Kockroach
Track by Track Review
Surfabilly (Instrumental)
A rompin' bouncy rockabilly beat and riffin' rhythm drives "Ms Riptide Rpm" to a frenzy. Much in the rockabilly arena, yet having a touch of surf ethics.
Shadows Surf (Instrumental)
"At The Skyline Drive-In" has the decided flavor of the Shadows melded with the edge of surf. Infectious, spatial, long and flowing notes, and cowboy rhythms. A very fun track.
Garage Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Exotic bongos and tuff garage rockin' riffology. Non-melodic, but sporting lots of twangin' energy and some great muted reverb guitar accompaniment. Lots of energy and unabashed flair.
Hawaiian Surf (Instrumental)
Hawaiian steel and gentle guitar lines eventually give way to a frolicking number with a party on the island feeling. Lots of flair and grins all around. very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
A slow and lush song, "Blue Java" seems to float on an air of gentle evening mist. The melody is low and sultry. The two guitars counter each other with delicate precision. This is a very nice track!
Garage Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Two guitars play the same melody lines in completely different tones, one fuzz and one twang. It makes a fairly normal instro come alive with intrigue. Spunky and like Davie Allan meets the Ventures.
He Took A Ride (A Little Too Far) Spaghetti (Instrumental)
This is a haunting and lush instro with shimmer and great charm. Perhaps the best thing here, with spatial beauty and emotional sadness like spaghetti westerns often deliver. The melody is strong, the arrangement very effective, and the ambiance well suited. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
Spooky and wave-powered, "The Biggest Wave" seems to race across the face just outside the pocket. Great drama and rhythm, and very fun. The chop rhythms are superb. An excellent track!
Surf Blues (Instrumental)
This sort of bluesy surf instro uses bongos, a country blues beat, and a distant surf guitar to create a vision of disparate coexistence on the banks of a river. The BBQ is lit, and Booker T and the MG's are trying their hand at surf. Way fun.
Rock Surf (Instrumental)
This rising dramarama depends on metronomic chords and swelling sound. Some double picked surf guitar, some tweaky noises, eerie keys, and a relentless bass and drums running beneath it all.
Eerie Surf (Instrumental)
Big vibrato and charging drums, eerie sound, and fast rolling energy. In many ways, this leans on vintage surf, yet is squarely of the present. Fun and very infectious.
Country (Instrumental)
Acoustic guitar, country steel or bottleneck, and a country beat. "The Kockroach" is a sweat country instro that's really hard not to like. Infectious, warm, friendly, and fun.