Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This is the long awaited new C D from Italy's wonderful Cosmonauti. 11 new studio tracks, 1 from the Chinese Checkers release, and 5 from their fine live performance in San Jose a few years back.

Picks: Bikini Angel, Just Surf, Dolly Dance, Lazy, Summer Girl, Cosy Boy, Spanish Waves, Spring Fiesta, Zombie Walk, Thank You Paul, She's Not There, High Ride, First Kiss, Sea Storm/Blue Surf, Driver, (Death Of A) Matador, Maserati/She's Not There

Surf (Instrumental)

The melody of "Bikini Angel" moves with a playful lilt against a percussive second guitar for a most appealing effect. The fluid lead work is very smooth. It suitably has a bit of the girl-watcher feel.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Just Surf" is fluid, melodic and a little sad. The melody drips Italian while suggesting the shore in a holiday kinda way.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a really nice track, with a playful Mediterranean surf feel and almost grinning optimism. An excellent piece of music, playful, and quite catchy. Excellent track!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Lazy" is "a very lazy song dedicated to all lazy Italians" (a direct quote). It has an almost "Endless Summer" quality to it, fluid and breezy afternoon island magic with unlimited tropical imagery. Excellent!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Summer Girl" bounces with fun in every verse. The excellent driving rhythm, melodic guitar lines, and a lusty joy are irresistible. This is a well written song with a real sense of open road optimism. Very happy and adventurous.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Cosy Boy" is a splendid song with a melodic European feel. It's breezy afternoon softness is carried on a rolling kind of backtrack. Very pretty.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Spanish Waves" is a lightly crunchy number with very nice guitar lines. It has a romantic Mediterranean sound. Excellent!

Surf (Instrumental)

This song has a fluid melody line and a smooth sense of motion. "Spring Fiesta" sounds just like its title implies, like a vacation in the country side. It hints of far away places and local scenery. A carefree feel and a sense of wide-eyed adventure.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Zombie Walk" is a track with a melody and sound that seem at odds with the title, unless you can imagine carefree zombies on vacation. It's playful and very charming.

Surf (Instrumental)

The ringing slightly whammied chords at the ends of some guitar lines give "Thank You Paul" a sense of island surf adventure, as do the double picked lines. This is happy and very enjoyable. An excellent song!

Surf (Instrumental)

The Zombies' exceptionally cool "She's Not There" becomes even more bitchin' at the hands of I Cosmonauti. This spectacular arrangement is warm and refreshing, with a surfable sparkle and English charm, abducted by Italian vacationers. Very cool!

Memphis Soul Surf (Instrumental)

Italy's Cosmonauti use fuzz and twang to recreate "High Ride" in their own impeccably cool way. A fun and rhythmic track, with excellent drums and bass holding the time.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a splendidly enjoyable tune, with a tropical sound and wonderful lilt. It's melodic, fluid, and really nicely structured. It's Italian roots show in complimentary ways, giving this a summer holiday kinda feel. It dances across the monitors with energy and playful delight.

Surf (Instrumental)

I Cosmonauti have created a really cool and moody number with "Sea Storm," with a mysterious air and a trad sound. The damped second guitar is spot-on, and the melody is strong and infectious. This is solid driving surf, with touches of "Runaway" (as done by the Chantays) drama and the sounds of the surf. This is the sort of thing Jon and the Nightriders might do, though not as well recorded. Solid surf!

Almost as grand is "Blue Surf." Expecting a shimmering surf tune from the title, like the Surfaris' "Blue Surf" or Davie Allan's "Beyond The Blue," I was first lulled into acceptance of the assumption from the first verse, but quickly enough, the pace doubled up, the drive kicked in, and the flying drums and guitars shredded, eventually double picking a solid surf adventure. The hand claps add a splendid pro edge to a potential single. Is this the Patents' tune? Fine track. Recorded live at Fuel in San Jose, California by Phil Dirt.

Surf (Instrumental)

Speedy damped surfisms, swelling surf twang, and a brilliant soundscape. This is not particularly melodic, but it is very infectious and very well thought out. I found it hard to stop playing. I don't know why, but I expected a surf cover of the Beatles' song. Thank goodness it isn't.

Surf (Instrumental)

Very cool double picked original with a fiery delivery. It's a bit of a tango and is blessed with twinges of "Malaguena." A very nice low-E pounder - intense and powerful. I like it better here than alone on comps, where it has appeared before. It has plenty of solid energy.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Maserati" has a "Music To Watch Girls By" feel, this ode to one of one of the great sports cars drives with the open road top down feel of the Mermen's "Lonely Road," but with pure optimism and more of a sunny afternoon breezy feel.

"She's Not There" is the Zombies' song. Once you hear it instrumentalized, it's a wonder no one did it before. It's melodic and very cool. It sings of the fluid waters and an open road. Recorded live at Fuel in San Jose, California by Phil Dirt.