Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Split: King Charles' Head vs. The White Trash Minstrels
 | This is a split single featuring two Dutch surf bands. King Charles' Head is trad and gutsy, while the White Trash Minstrels are cheesy boomy space oriented. Both bands deserve attention. Fine solid performances. |
Picks: King Charles' Head - Rap City, Malaria, White Trash Minstrels - Theme From Star Trek
Track by Track Review
King Charles' Head - Rap City Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures all reverbed up, with richer tone and fuller guitar power. The keys are tasty, and the drums are a really nice nod to the original. There's plenty of flair and energy.
King Charles' Head - Malaria Surf (Instrumental)
It opens with a car crash, then launches into a deep Trashmen arrangement, with rich Fender reverb and ringing chords. There's nothing new here, but the rock-solid power and guitar tone, coupled with a slightly morphed break give this one huge sound. Quite pleasing.
White Trash Minstrels - Theme From Star Trek Space Surf (Instrumental)
Weirdness abounds in this cheesily effected throbber. It's a strange blend of distant reverbed surf and TV outer space excesses. Rhythmic, energetic, driven, and loaded with strangely magnetic electronics, but the murky sound limits its potential.