Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA | This CD from New York's Coffin Daggers continues their aggressive rock approach to surf and related sounds. Hard driving, very well arranged and developed, and recorded direct to two track in studio. Great stuff. |
Picks: Psychonaut, Breaking Tide, Avenue X, Dr. Guillotine, Sandstorm, The Rumble, Cruel Sea, The Forgotten Prisoner, Hornet's Nest, Stella Vista '69, Alhambra, Bombora, Seduction Of The Innocent, Stampede, Interstellar Overdrive
Track by Track Review
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Thick and chunky, "Psychonaut" is a real rhythm grinder with dark textures, a surf link, a Link Wray rawness, and a menacing melody line. Some long notes, some double picking, grodie glissandos, and lots of meanness. Quite powerful.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Dark rhythmic intensity, distorto piano chords, tribal tom toms, and ominous double picking add up to one mean track. Heavy duty and stormy.
Lounge Surf (Instrumental)
This cool tune sounds like a Los Straitjackets and Henry Mancini in a blender, swirled not shaken by Jake (Bomboras). Smooth, fluid, and very cool.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Shredding on fast moving dangerous break close to the rocks, "Dr. Guillotine" slices and cuts back at breakneck a pace. The break features incredibly cool piano bass and tom toms playing a haunting, tribal, and almost progressive masterpiece that climaxes in a very long silky glissando before crushing against the rocks. Magnificent! For short boards only.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
"Sandstorm" is a strong instro with a heavy twang ethic. Dramatic and big. Not the Johnny and the Hurricanes tune.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
The Shadows' circular melody line in "The Rumble" is a friendly basis for the Coffin Daggers art. Intense and full-bodied, it plays in childlike innocence, but with raw power and intensity. Excellent!
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This is a heavy handed treatment of the Dakotas' "Cruel Sea." The subtleties remain within the compressed distortion, and the surfability shines through. Quite a solid cover.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This track is thematic, like maybe for spy adventure. It features a fluid melody line played with intense distortion and power.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Buzzy with vibrating distortion like hornets circling your lunch, "Hornet's Nest" is dramatic and artful. While fairly simple, the piano ads a great deal to the mix, and the fluid power of the track cuts through the often subdued arrangement. Really cool.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Big distorto twang and high energy drive the Coffin Daggers, and "Stella Vista '69" certainly displays their straight ahead approach. This rock instro is modern and hard driving. The melody is miles from the brine, but fluid nonetheless.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Lumbering and moody, big and throbbing, "Alhambra" moves through vibrato shimmer and bass thunder, dramatic tango licks and intense rock tone.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
The Original Surfaris' powerful "Bombora" is shredded with intense restraint. Thunder and plunder on the exotic waves of faraway places. The organ adds a surreal air to this strong track.
Seduction Of The Innocent Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Bouncy and rhythmic, circular and angular, "Seduction Of The Innocent" is a strong instro with quite a bit of edge and polish.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
The Scarlets' infectious "Stampede," originally issued in 1959 and often covered by psychobilly bands, gets a new life under the picks and shovels of the Coffin Daggers. Just plain cool.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Not since Lawndale has Pink Floyd's awesome "Interstellar Overdrive" been given the surf rock treatment. chunky and rhythmic and dramatic, the Coffin Daggers make it hum with intensity.