Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Surfbands.com - The Summer of 2002
 | Virtually all of these tracks are from these bands' CD releases. Many are hard to find, some out of print, and a couple not otherwise released. The Summer of 2002 is a high quality release spanning the genre from rock solid trad to exotic. |
Picks: Twitchin', Midnight Ride, Boneyard, Cocktail Surf, Mambo Mutant, Paula ku' u-ipo, Bat Yam Stomp, Sale's Melioration, Stationary Orbit, Ramadan, Magyara, Bailout, Riptide, WetBikini
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A Steve Soest original, funky, bluesy, surf driven, with an infectious melody and major chunk. The hook value is high, and the energy is solid. It's hard to sit still while this dominates the stereo. A very imaginative melody. I think this is among Steve's best writing.
Surf (Instrumental)
From the opening horror laugh, this ominous track reeks of monsters riding the waves after dark, haunting the surf, and stalking the unsuspecting.
Surf (Instrumental)
Pounding drums and heavily picked pure Fender surf guitars. This is a fast tune, full of glorious evil tone, and shredding picking like only a vintage surf band can. This is a mean track, chunky, very melodic, ominous, and very powerful.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a rather silky haole island adventure with tribal drums and soft flowing lap steel. The guitar melody is simple and drifts across a verandah out onto the open lagoon on a warm summer's afternoon. Really cool!
Surf Funk (Instrumental)
On the fast side, "Mambo Mutant" is edgy and sports exotic percussion. Amazing blends of surf and throb and the tropics. Not melodic, but infectious none the less, and there are a few glissandoes for extra measure. Big twang intensity.
Surf (Instrumental)
Tribal rhythms support exotic guitar lines that present an image of veils and finger cymbals on a Baja California beach around a campfire. "Paula Ku' U-Ipo" is a song that sucks you in. The blend of ideas and sounds is very impressive.
Surf (Instrumental)
Tuff and like klezmer for a nightmare, "Bat Yam Stomp" pumps and pounds, and sports dark double picked guitar menacing the night. Great track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Apache" drums and a melody very similar to Richie Podolor's "Quiet Surf." This may borrow from other works, but it's very good. Pretty and dramatic, tribal and ringing with wet guitar work.
Sci-Fi Surf (Instrumental)
Sinewy whammy chords and haunting surf guitar over soft exotic percussion portray an image of sunset island off the coast of Mexico, or maybe just outside the asteroid belt. Dramatic and fluid.
Surf (Instrumental)
Middle Eastern themes pumped out with intensity and twang, over a militaristic beat. Lots of pomp and drama here. "Ramadan" is a damn fine track, uniquely built around the sounds of Mecca. It's a whole new take. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
This marvelous Mediterranean line dance thing is too glorious. Fluid and folk grand, fun and very good listening. It's times like this when the writing power of this band is crystal clear. Destined for the "Instrumental Fire 2001" CD. Ferenc Dobronyi wrote it for his dad.
Surf (Instrumental)
Double picked parachuting spies with a solid beat. The slightly Spanish feel, and the warmth of the delivery help make this a pleasant trip. Melodic and full of swimming whammy. An excellent tune.
Surf (Instrumental)
Riffin' progressions and loud guitar drive hard for the night time. The guitar needs a little more variation, but the track satisfies, especially the trumpet and power-drive glissandoes.
Surf (Instrumental)
Aggressive and playful, "Wet Bikini" races and dances on tubular sunshine. Highly original, and maybe a little like the Evasions on double time. Shouts of "wet bikini" add period charm. A little thrashy, and very reverby.