Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | Often modeled after the Original Surfaris, and occasionally spiked with Davie Allan fuzz, the Bikini Men play fast and hard and arrange very consistently. If you like the energy of Jim Messina and the Jesters and Jon and the Nightriders, this will be your cup of tea. |
Picks: Tiki Oasis, Illusion, La Dance Du Ventre, Clear Water, The Voodoo Wrestler, Do The Washing Machine, Ice Storm, Valoris, Little Red Line, La Discorde, Mr. Accelerator, Lost In The Desert, Monkey Flip, La Ola Bikini, The Squared Circle, Surfari
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
"Tiki Oasis" is a tough rockin' surf instro with very cool chords that splash with reverb. Melodic and full of spunk, it drives for the danger inside the tube.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Little Red Line" is a tough rockin' surf instro with very cool chords that splash with reverb. Melodic and full of spunk, it drives for the danger inside the tube. The melody is a lot like the Velvetones' "Static."
Surf (Instrumental)
Middle Eastern mystery, dangerous drama, and circular riffs, amped with muted chop chords splashing with reverb. "La Dance Du Ventre" is a thoroughly cool track with commanding motion and real surf ethics.
Biker (Instrumental)
"Clear Water" runs with the Hogs down that Central Valley freeway. Not phrased or written like Davie Allan might, but it's squarely in the biker fuzz genre he launched all those years ago.
Biker (Instrumental)
Straddling biker fuzz and garage surf, "The Voodoo Wrestler" is a riff rocker with a lot of energy and a dark sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big and splashy, fast and tubular, "Do The Washing Machine" sports a great melody riff that cycles above the curl like a vulture ready to dive on a rotting corpse. No, it's not rotten, it's just ready to plunge into the soup. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Ice Storm" rocks! Fast and furious, and spiked with spunk. The energy here is intense, and the speed perfect for the melody. Great drums and solid playing throughout.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Valoris" is a fast number with ample spunk. It has drama and power and an odd chorus.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Little Red Line" is a fast surf instro with swift glissandos and tribal drums. High energy, solid drive, and a good melody riff. The glissandos shred.
Surf (Instrumental)
"La Discorde" features fast glissandos and a moody melody line. The speed drives it hard. Plenty of changes to keep it in the fore.
Fuzz (Instrumental)
"Mr. Accelerator" is one fuzzy song. Near-square wave tone, tuff drums, and a real biker sound. It's large, and intense.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Lost In The Desert" is superb. Slow moving, big chord splashy, delicate, yet powerful. The ambiance is moody and mysterious, and the melody engaging. It breaks into some manic churning at some points, but mostly stays in the foggy desert surf vein. Quite cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
Fast stompin' surf instrumental fire is the main thing here. Strong and semi-thrashy, with a solid melody line in the break. Powerful.
Surf (Instrumental)
Middle Eastern mystery the way Jim Messina wrote it, and modern fire delivery. "La Ola Bikini" is a marvelous track with a real sense of exotic danger and plenty of power. Super power glissandos, great rhythm a la Dick Dale, and a fine melody in the vein of "Mar Gaya" and "The Victor." Superb.
Surf (Instrumental)
Fast and dark, with solid energy and well thought out delivery. Dangerous and heavy handed, with dramatic aquatic imagery.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Original Surfaris's "Surfari" is superbly done. Fast and furious, and spiked with spunk. Speedy picking, rockin' drums, and a great delivery all around. Great fun, lots of power, and very strong. Wonderful.
