Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This is the first fundraiser CD from San Diego State's KCR, based on Clint Beachwood's surf show. The CD is produced from live ambient recordings made by Mike Geiser and mastered by Rick Wilkinson. The ambient sound has its limits, but the performances are all great. Congrats to Clint for doing all the legwork, and discovering how little direct staff support such projects actually get.

Picks: Spicy Danger, Velvet Surf, Tiger Shark, Black Sea, Bluff Failure, Sandpaper Paddles, Heavy Water, Girl From Orange County, Glass Bowls, South Swell, In The Green Room (Through Your Mama's Brown Eye), Tijuana Taco, I.N.F.R.A.R.E.D.S., The Infraromp, Rincon Revel, Ghosts At The Ranch, Liquid Chaos, First Point, PCH, Mysterioso, Baja Nights

Surf (Instrumental)

Venice Beach's Glasgow Tiki Shakers launch into a rompin' tune with great energy and spirit. Bill McGlynn's melody is very enticing, and the glissandos simply pour off the guitar like water.

Surf (Instrumental)

Lush swimming chords, softly tribal drums, moody bass... it's a deadly combination. "Velvet Surf" is a beautiful track with a haunting air and slightly sad emotional edge. This is quite compelling!

Surf (Instrumental)

The Insect Surfers have been doing "Tiger Shark" for ages. It's just such a fine song! Too much drums, but otherwise, it's a great performance full of their spit and vinegar dueling lead guitars!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Black Sea" is one of Dave Arnson's most wonderful songs. It has a grand circular melody, and the drums are spectacular. Rich and very dramatic.

Surf (Instrumental)

Surf Report's moody "Bluff Failure" is very well done here. With a haunting melody and distant sadness, it paints a picture of epic vision and drama. Very cool!

Surf (Instrumental)

Double picked fury and power with a cool rhythm and heavy energy! This is a great performance of a fine song! Fiery and very aggressive!

Surf (Instrumental)

The MiGs are one of the many faces of Bernard Yin, whom you must know from Brazil 2001, among others. Fast and powerful, and very picturesque, as is always the case with Bernard's songs. Excellent!

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a soft and slow song with an undulating moodiness. The exotic nature of the song adds mystique to the "Girl From Orange County." A very cool number!

Surf (Instrumental)

Tom Stanton's amazing Surf Kings continue to generate stunning music. They've been doing "Glass Bowls" for quite a while, and its beauty and haunting sound continue to mystify. A great song!

Surf (Instrumental)

Unusual guitar riffs, funky percussion, fluid soulful bass, and swooshing whammy make "South Swell" an incredibly visual and powerful song. It's moderately paced, beautifully arranged, and exquisitely played. In some ways, there are touches of Santana here, and definite Fillmore leanings.

Surf (Instrumental)

CHUM's infinite darkness permeate the post-classic style of "In The Green Room (Through Your Mama's Brown Eye)." It's sometimes inspired by "Pipeline," but is mostly a monster of a surf instro. Great whammy and very heavy thunder.

Surf (Instrumental)

The Spanish lace of "Tijuana Taco" flows in the breeze of a summer afternoon. Tasteful writing with a sad edge and wistful feel. Haunting and lovely.

Surf (Instrumental)

Spy vs. spy on surfboards... "I.N.F.R.A.R.E.D.S." is a great song with a solid melody and lots of energy, and great drums! The melody and beat are infectious, and the flow of the song is superb!

Surf (Instrumental)

"The Infraromp" has the dark power of the Woodies' "Midnight Ride," but a lot more speed. Power, solid chunk, double picking, whammy chords, and rumbling bass. Very cool!

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a song with a fast double picked lead line and a break is borrowed from "Penetration" perhaps, but that only gives it a familiar feeling. Very nice track.

Surf (Instrumental)

Indian drums and an Indian melody combine in a splendid song. Its ringing tone and imagery are splendid, and "Ghosts At The Ranch" is a pure pleasure.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Liquid Chaos" simply rips. I still recall the chills when they played it in the Pit! This performance is excellent. The song wraps up everything that is danger in surf and power in rock.

Surf (Instrumental)

A circulating riff powers this surf instro, and the happy chords give it a joyous edge not unlike the Gamblers' "Moon Dawg." It's a racing romp in exciting soup, or maybe a race across a fast running high wall.

Surf (Instrumental)

Does Slacktone ever have an off day? What a great romp this song always is. High spirit and delicate precision, along with high power and panache.

Surf (Instrumental)

One of several classic Slacktone songs that is pure Dave Wronski! A great melody, wonderful lead-rhythm interplay (on one guitar, of course), and an infectious rhythm. Lots of power and style!

Surf (Instrumental)

Gil Orr's "Baja Nights" is a lovely song with a Spanish soul coastal adventure imagery. Warm and liquid, with a bit of mystery and allure.