Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Split: King Charles' Head - Wets Sounds c/w Way Out West Motorhula
 | This is strikingly good. Complete albums from two great bands coupled on a single CD. They are different enough in style to make this a great listen. King Charles' Head are extra crunchy while Way Out West are smoother and more arty. What a great release! Way Out West's "Countdown" is just that... not a song. |
Picks: King Charles' Head - Cutting the Cheese, Alligator Dance, Ghostriders on a Surfboard, Moon Delay, The Good Humor Stomp, War of the Satellites, Vamos, Istanrumble, Taco Wagon, Stompe, Banzai Cokeline, Moment of Truth, Al Ekim, Way Out West - M. P. J., Bombora, Big Blue, Where is Mrs. Bond, Motorhula, Surf Connection, Mr. Rebel, Scratchin', Lost Highway, Frog Attack
Track by Track Review
King Charles' Head - Cutting the Cheese Surf (Instrumental)
Heavy chords a la "Lullaby of the Leaves" precede a thundering glissando, before a thick thundering reverb fest drives a wedge between the quiet and you. Very big, not very melodic, but solid eat-sand power.
King Charles' Head - Alligator Dance Surf (Instrumental)
"Alligator Dance" sports a playful riff, interesting stop-start breaks, and a Spanish feel. The melody line is quite friendly, and memorable as well. A fine track. And there's not a gator in sight, neither from the swamp angle nor the Crocodile Hunter perspective.
King Charles' Head - Ghostriders on a Surfboard Surf (Instrumental)
A great rolling rhythm section supports this fine melody with real flair. The melody is somewhere between spaghetti western and Spanish surf. Very enjoyable, and very powerful. They eventually get to Stan Jones' "Ghostriders in the Sky" for a bar or two, but otherwise this is a damn fine original with lots of infectious rhythm and a fine melody. Yee-haw!
King Charles' Head - Moon Delay Surf (Instrumental)
"Moon Delay" aka the Vistas' "Moon Relay" is played out a little slower than the original, and with added crunch. "Moon Relay" is a highly infectious rhythm oriented number. It rolls right along, plays really well loud in your car on warm summer night, and stays with you. It is very simple, and very effective. Great track.
King Charles' Head - The Good Humor Stomp Surf (Instrumental)
"The Good Humor Stomp" is a solid rippin' cover of the Avengers VI classic. This sports lots of power and plenty of edge. Pure surf madness with modern panache.
King Charles' Head - War of the Satellites Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures' tune played up with much more angst, and made to be less hokey and more believable. King Charles' Head bring a Dick Dale "Mexico" feel to the tune that gives it a real surf sound and much more interest. A fine cover.
King Charles' Head - Vamos Surf (Instrumental)
Latin percussion, a Spanish riff, a mid tempo flair, and ringing sustained shallow whammy chords... a very fine track with a great feel and infectious sound. There's something sophisticated and polished here, frequent flyer miles to Puerto Vallarta on a lazy weekend. Very cool.
King Charles' Head - Istanrumble Surf (Instrumental)
This is an edged version of the Shadows' "The Rumble" with more grit and a real surf sound. I think this is the first time this tune has actually been treated to crunch and drive. It really brings out the tribal potential. Even the damped midsection is pure joy.
King Charles' Head - Taco Wagon Surf (Instrumental)
A little slow down in the pace of this fave Dick Dale classic brings it a smoother more suave sound, more fluid and less polka. Really fine, respectful, warm, and very enjoyable. Excellent!
King Charles' Head - Stompe Surf (Instrumental)
The Scarlets' classic instro "Stompede" becomes more vibrato and surf, and much less percussive rockabilly at the hands of King Charles' Head. This is quite a solid take, crunchy and rich.
King Charles' Head - Banzai Cokeline Surf (Instrumental)
"Banzai Cokeline" sports a backtrack and some patterns borrowed from Henry Mancini's "Banzai Pipeline" and Al Casey's "El Aguila," but it's more dramatic and slightly faster than either the Henry Mancini or Astronauts versions. It's rumbly reverbed like an Al Casey monster, but significantly more delicate. Despite it's obvious derivation, it's a very good track.
King Charles' Head - Moment of Truth Surf (Instrumental)
Evil pummelings abound amid thick garagy attack. As with nearly everyone else that has covered this, it is the Original Surfaris arrangement that it's based on. There's quite a bit of rethinking, lots of dark glissandos, and interesting chord work.
King Charles' Head - Al Ekim Surf (Instrumental)
Slowed intro, relentless shimmering surf, and a strikingly unusual cover/variation of a tune I can't place as I write this - damn. The damped guitar work and fine arranging sparkle. Crunchy and rich.
King Charles' Head - Theme From Spies Surf (Instrumental)
Mal organ wizardry is the vehicle for this cheesy spies at K-mart tune. It's quite catchy and fun, bringing a grin to even the sourest grinch.
Surf (Instrumental)
Way Out West gives us a riff rocker with excellent damped reverb, a cool beat, and a catchy line, with a dash of crunch.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Larry Weed monster, more pristinely delivered, with crisp round guitar and ample drive. This is not as powerful as the Original Surfaris' version, but is is very nicely done, and richly textured. The different feel gives it a new identity and a fresh imagery. Very nice track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Very tasty damped reverb guitar parts accent this three guitar floater. It glides by with a rich swimming ambiance and an infectious feel. Melodic, fluid, and picturesque. "Big Blue" is more than an afternooner, nut less than a rocker. It drifts somewhere between big surf and shore break.
Way Out West - Where is Mrs. Bond Surf (Instrumental)
James Bond's mom floating placidly on a pink 9'-6"" McCoy sporting a plaid bikini... it's quite an image, but that's the story here. "Secret Agent Man" and James Bond themery are blended. Even so, I don't think that either spy would mind the miscreant merger. A solid spy medley in a different arrangement.
Surf (Instrumental)
Drivin' down the highway, running on empty, and looking for surf. "Motorhula" sports a fine ska beat and a fluid melody with a flavor of the Ray Beats. Quite a nice track.
Way Out West - Surf Connection Surf (Instrumental)
Traveling down the highway, searching for a decent break, with car 54 not far behind. This is edgier than the rest, with a distorted guitar and a menacing backtrack. Pumped danger.
Surf (Instrumental)
Eddie and the Showmen's classic ode to Reb Foster given a new lease on life by removing some of the beat orientation and replacing it with reverb ring. The result is a more fluid less percussive track that still retains the charm of Eddie Bertrand's most familiar work. An excellent cover.
Way Out West - Scratchin' Surf (Instrumental)
Thick heavy surf chunk, rumbling with a tribal churn and a damped chop, like a Packards tune played with a Frank Novicki chop and a grin. This is very cool. I found it growing on me as I listened. Great drums, and an excellent example of the power of simplicity when combined with runway chunk.
Way Out West - Morlock Stomp Surf (Instrumental)
"Morlock Stomp" is a more mainstream number, less surf and more rock. The reverb is surf, but the structure is not really. having said that, it's a fine track for a topdown drive.
Way Out West - Lost Highway Surf (Instrumental)
Ringing whammy, peaceful lagoon flow, and gentle breeze after a storm imagery. It's a bit sad, yet optimistic. very pretty and very enjoyable. The tone is both subdued and warm.
Way Out West - Frog Attack Surf (Instrumental)
Amphibian assault, wart patrol, lily pad warfare... The imagery of the title is matched by the infectious rhythm track and the great vibratoed reverb guitar. Very catchy and warm, playful and fun.