Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Spaguetti And Chili Western
 | This is a superb collection of spaghetti western instros from a lot of very good bands. 22 tracks, and not a dog in the bunch! Excellent! |
Picks: The Bitch Boys - Skawboy, The Brillantina's - Da Cruela Sun, The Cavernarios - La Roca, Chewbacca's - Cowboy Junkie, Chino y Los Cochinos - Por un Punado de Yens, Los Coronas - Hacha De Guerra, Los Derrumbes - La Arana, Los Gordos - Calibre 32, Lost Acapulco - Las Calaveras del Justicio (El Regreso), The Moe Greene Specials - Quintana Sixteen, Los Peyotes - Navajo, Los Plantronics - Surfin' The Prairie, Reef Rider - El Dorado, The Sandblasters - Tarantula Taco, Los Straitjackets - Magnificent Seven, The Tormentos - Ride Sunset Devil, The Trailer Park Casanovas - Santa Ana, Los Twangers - Transgenic Surfers, Los Twang Marvels - Rancho Cucamonga, Twin Tones - Espiritu del Desierto, unknown - unknown, Los Walkysons - Tabernas
Track by Track Review
Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
A delicately damp-picked intro gives way to a spaghetti western style melody over a near ska rhythm that gradually goes faster and faster until double picking and glissandos take over, transitioning into an almost Cossack sound. Very interesting and cool.
The Brillantina's - Da Cruela Sun Spaghetti Western (Instrumental)
A spaghetti western whistler and swimming chords foretell of the stranger with the stogie in the serape riding in the rain. melodic and menacing, sad and whammy powered. In some ways, it reminds me of a more delicate version of 999's "Wild Sun." Very cool!
The Cavernarios - La Roca Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Throbbing tremolo guitar, howling coyotes, Spanish guitars, muted leads, glissandos, and just about anything you might need for a surf instro, with the added glory of spaghetti westerns and cowboy epics. Excellent!
Chewbacca's - Cowboy Junkie Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
This mid tempo number has lovely surf chords, moody tone, and a western edge. The mid section features galloping drums, while the rest is as much a surf structure as spaghetti. The chorus adds a sense of the Italian scores.
Chino y Los Cochinos - Por un Punado de Yens Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Rhythmic chords writhe as a grode guitar plays a dangerous melody. Cool chords, galloping rhythm, and a haunted feeling. Very nice track.
Los Coronas - Hacha De Guerra Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Thundering tom toms launch into a rompin' rhythmic number with a melody line that calls to Spaghetti West."Hacha De Guerra" is an infectious track with a galloping rhythm and lots of energy. Quite spectacular.
Surf (Instrumental)
Cowboys ride the range in search of the trail to the surf. A splendid instrumental with a very infectious rhythm and soothing rebel rock melody.
Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Gunshots, muted surf rhythm, a spooky melody line, and an overall wash of Boot Hill. "Calibre 32" is on the sad side, while hinting of a coming sunrise. Great stuff!
Lost Acapulco - Las Calaveras del Justicio (El Regreso) Surf (Instrumental)
Big vibrato throb and a darkened mood... "Las Calaveras del Justico" is a fine moody track with a cautious optimism lurking in the reverb. Drama and a solid backtrack support a fine instrumental with a cautiously optimistic sound. The melody is very good, and the imagery quite obvious. The sight of a bay below the cliff-top vantage point's green grass puts many things in perspective. The melody riff may be dark, but it's also fluid and very enjoyable. An excellent track!
The Moe Greene Specials - Quintana Sixteen Spaghetti Western (Instrumental)
With a sense of danger and pomp, "Quintana Sixteen" seems ready for a film scene. More of a dramatic backdrop to a distant journey to destiny than a song really, but very effective.
Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
"Navajo" has a distinct sound of old westerns, with galloping rhythm and great drums. Images of black and white cowboys filter through. It's not very Indian in the way American songs are, but very much in the way spaghetti westerns are. The double picked verse is launched with a glissando.
Los Plantronics - Surfin' The Prairie Fuzz Surf (Instrumental)
Rising like an oncoming train from a haunting harmonica, "Surfin' The Prairie" rides atop a galloping beat, with lots of well placed elements and chants, plus throbbing vibrato and horns. This is a magnificent and powerful piece of music which features relentless intensity and danger.
Surf (Instrumental)
Spanish chords and damped horses' hooves run under a fine Mexican melody. "El Dorado" is a spaghetti western epic in the best tradition. Excellent rhythmically, and melodically very cool!
The Sandblasters - Tarantula Taco Hairy Spider Surf (Instrumental)
There's something squirmy about the thought of a hairy black "Tarantula Taco!" I think they should change restaurants. This track is a grand song with mariachi trumpets and beautiful chords. This is one huge winner!!! The female vocals that come into the song near the middle are the frosting on the cake. My fave on the CD.
Los Straitjackets - Magnificent Seven Surf (Instrumental)
Finally, after so many years playing this great film score live, they commit it to tape in the studio. Elmer Bernstein's theme was used for a series of Marlboro ads during the sixties, with a logo character called the Marlboro Man, who looked like a serious version of the Granny Goose cowboy. Los Straitjackets have captured the silliness of the ad and the richness of the film score, while also preserving their signature crunch. A very cool track.
The Tormentos - Ride Sunset Devil Surf (Instrumental)
Cowboys on surfboards... "Ride Sunset Devil" is a splendid example of spurs and wetsuits, and is not unlike the grodiest Texas sludge with reverb. Too cool!
The Trailer Park Casanovas - Santa Ana Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Great drums and galloping drums, sullen images, and bass rumble drive you to "Santa Ana." This is quite a durable track, with an memorable energy and infectious gate.
Los Twangers - Transgenic Surfers Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Dark winds blow, farm animals call, and then a galloping epic comes forth. The rhythm is very infectious, and the melody very cowboy. Ringing chords and western appeal.
Los Twang Marvels - Rancho Cucamonga Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Racing a long at break neck speed, "Rancho Cucamonga" is just too fun. Great drums beat out a speedy military cadence, and the melody is very playful. Very cool!
Twin Tones - Espiritu del Desierto Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
Moody and sad, "Espiritu del Desierto" paints a western scene of sundown with drama and narrated lines. The desert overtakes the horses while the double picked guitar dribbles lovely lines. The drums are excellent.
unknown - unknown
Spaguetti Western (Instrumental)
This last track is uncredited on the sleeve. It's an acoustic piece with a few guitars playing a haunting closing panorama of the setting sun.
Spaghetti (Instrumental)
"Tabernas" is a fine track with rich guitar and a moody melody line. The stereo chorus is right out of a Hollywood interpretation of a spaghetti western. It's a splendid track, with jaws harp, whistling, Morricone grunts, and a great big grin!