Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens - Captain Ahab and The Sea Crackens
 | Lots of cool stuff here. Some heavy and dark double picked guitar, interesting use of keys in surf, and excellent drumming. Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens play original and inventive surf with stormy seas of gray-green turbulence. |
Picks: Fall Down, The Ballad Of Johnny Surfelstein, Surf Gypsy, Surf Home Plotzed, Bilderberg Boogie, Hunting For Mermaids, El Tiburon Tiene Hambre, Surf Ninja
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Dark and murky, "Fall Down" uses organ to create some of the Pipeline mystique, while the band plays dungeonous danger surf. This is big and dramatic, with serious pomp and menacing arranging. The middle is just gentle kick drum and guitar, but otherwise, this song pummels.
The Ballad Of Johnny Surfelstein Surf (Instrumental)
The melody here is cinematic and the arrangement sweeping and dungeonous. There are flying glissandos and significant power throughout. There is a familiar run in the beginning of the primary riff from "The Man From U.N.C.L.E. that sets up the theme," but it diverges quickly.
Surf (Instrumental)
Gypsy cries of "hey" and sort of ska-ish rhythms, along with soaring guitar lines set "Surf Gypsy" apart from the crowd. It's very big and heavy, and intensely fun in a punky sort of way.
Surf (Instrumental)
This mid tempo piece has a spyish sound, with organ grinder swirling and a cross between surf and quirky romance adventure melodies. "Surf Home Plotzed" is really quite nice, and the tom toms add drama to the break.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Bilderberg Boogie" is very surf, from the muted rhythm pattern and aquatic drama, to the ocean's gentle lapping. The lead is darkly double picked, while the keys play bell-like shimmering notes. This is highly original and very engaging.
Surf (Instrumental)
Wonderful muted very high notes dribble like those wonderful sixties midwest instros, and then "Hunting For Mermaids" takes a demented and dangerous turn. This is amazing. Very original, and quite compelling.
Surf (Instrumental)
If you imagine Apache as a jungle beach assault, you get the visuals and sound of "El Tiburon Tiene Hambre." This is dramatic and powerful. The keys shimmer like bells, and the guitar's melody is sweeping and compelling. The drums are just perfect for this song.
Surf (Instrumental)
dark double picked slaughter, horror screams, big whammy chords, and an evil sound. "Surf Ninja" is relentless in its monster attack.