Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Crossfires - Guitars In Motion
 | Despite the obvious wet coast reverb, many of these tracks sound very much like they came out of Nashville or Memphis's country mill. Some are outright copies of other people's songs without credit, others original. Very interesting. |
Picks: Guitars In Motion, Step Down, Guitars, Etc., Ten-Four, Sidewalk Surfing, Red Eye, Blackout, Fried Potatoes, Crosswalk, Sidewinder, Shiftin', Boon Dockin'
Track by Track Review
Guitars In Motion Surf (Instrumental)
This is nothing more than a riff repeated ad infinitum. Without a melody, it gets boring really fast. Shallow surf reverb on the second guitar gives if a bit of a surf flavor.
Surf (Instrumental)
Mild surf reverb and a slightly fast pace, some cool drums work, and low-volume twang. The sudden slowdown with the country lilt in the middle seems odd, yet works pretty well. A bit unusual.
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf rhythm guitar and fuzz lead gives this a post surf pre psychedelic flavor. garage meets surf in a fanciful country air.
Surf (Instrumental)
A bit of playful whammy and a country structure with a trace of surf in the whammy and a nod to Lonnie Mack. More than just a studio session, this song has an infectious riff and chemistry. It's heavily owing to another tune I can't place at the moment. Pretty fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a bluesy number with primitive fuzz lead. It's very much in the vein of 1965-66 garage, but with a lighter edge and easier gate. Nothing complicated here, just a riff and a fuzz box.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Wailers' "Tall Cool One" is the obvious basis for this, though the melody riff is certainly not the same. Nice surf reverb on the lead as it plays a circular riff that's very friendly and playful. While definitely on the bluesy side, it's also really cool. Muted lines add a genuine surf edge.
Surf (Instrumental)
Muted surf rhythm and a bluesy lead play nicely together. The melody line is very playful, and the muted surf way cool. This sounds of the reverb combined with a bit of country twang is compelling and very fun.
Fried Potatoes Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very unsurf number, despite some reverb on the guitar. A fuzz verse here and there and a Travis Wammack weirdness give this a fairly gimmicky & forced sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is essentially Dick Dale and his Del-tones' "Ho-Dad Machine" with minor changes and virtually no surf soul. It's a fairly light weight number with a pretty jammy lead line.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Sidewinder (mono)" sports surf guitar in a jammy setting, with an almost gimmicky feeling. Little more than a riff and a sorta splashy underbelly. Slow and so-so.
Surf (Instrumental)
Wet reverb second guitar circles nicely through a cool pattern while a delicate guitar plays a high pitched lead. It eventually yields to a more surfy lead with island whammy chords. Slow and tasteful, with an easy pace and delicate sound.
Boon Dockin' Surf (Instrumental)
Jammin' like bands used to do, with one foot in R&B and the other in a near surf ethic. Ray Sharpe's "Linda Lu" is what this really is. OK, but completely forgettable.