Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Cocktail Preachers - Spy-Fidotdotdot
artworkThis CD-R contains nine brand new songs from Indiana's Cocktail Preachers. It displays growth in the writing and arrangeing. Some surf, some spy, some just plain cool instrumentals. A fine release.
Picks: Bailout, Preacher Stomp, Pajama Party, Tiki Lounge Mix, Mecca, Kickstart Torpedo, Spy-Fi, Go Betty, Yo Queiro Talento

Track by Track Review


Bailout dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Double picked parachuting spies with a solid beat. The slightly Spanish feel, and the warmth of the delivery help make this a pleasant trip. Melodic and full of swimming whammy. An excellent tune.

Preacher Stomp dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Spy saxophony, chunked guitar beat, and an anxious riff, slightly nasty, slightly uneasy. This is an unusually structured tune. Quite cool.

Pajama Party dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Laughing-giggling girls can be heard as the band plays a big suave party number. The organ howls under the guitar in a frat party whammy bar kinda blend. Fun and fluid.

Tiki Lounge Mix dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Tiki Lounge Mix" is a slow groove, a fluid afternoon verandah number that brings images of funny shaped glasses with little umbrellas in them, and undulating patrons being poured into motion. Very nice.

Mecca dotdotdotdot
Surf Lounge (Instrumental)

"Mecca" is rhythmic and fluid, not exactly middle eastern, but exotic and nicely written. It has very pleasing melody line, and a solid arrangement. The vibes lead sound and Latin groove backtrack add up to one slushy track with lots of party goodness. A little more guitar and a little less drums in the mix, and it would be perfecto mundo!

Kickstart Torpedo dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Kickstart Torpedo" has a minimal riff, but it's friendly and enjoyable, and played with lots of energy. This is very surfable track. The tiniest sounding motorbike engine I've ever heard is kick started and wound up like a rubber band.

Spy-Fi dotdotdot
Spy (Instrumental)

Slightly spacy, quite saucy, sax led with crunchy dissonant guitar and a slow moody rhythm section. It's got that waterfront feel to it.

Go Betty dotdotdot
Jazz Surf (Instrumental)

This is a jazzy number, kinda sultry, sorta bubbly, a little exotic, and oozing undulating female forms. Quite fine.

Yo Queiro Talento dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Chunky chop top delivery, percussive performance, and a string bent edge with whammy. It's a really interesting side trip, a journey back stage where the talent hangs out.