Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Fifty Foot Combo - Go Huntingdotdotdotdot
artworkThis is the domestic release of their 1998 CD, but with a pair os fiery live surf instros added as bonus tracks, which are worth the price of admission alone. The obvious crowd connection shines through the crude live sound. A solid release.
Picks: It's Alive, The Tunnel, Doe De Duif, Inspection #5, Dimitrius, The Brain From Planet X, I Think I Shot Her, Drums A Go-Go, The Escape, Minesweeper, Hully Gully Stomp, SL 54 Automatic, Jack The Ripper

Track by Track Review


It's Alive dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Introduced by a borrowed bit from a black and white horror film, this quickly breaks into raging surf, pure and edgy. The melody is in the tradition of the vintage era, simple format, with a ton of energy. More power than melody, more spunk than subtlety.

The Tunnel dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

With exotic bongos, and a dim witted Inspector mentality, this is dark and brooding, and intense. Whammy, thunder, and cool vibes. Sorta like an unmelodic Jack the Ripper.

Doe De Duif dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Big chord intro, surf stop-start, chunky delivery. A very simple progression, and a bunch of energy. Nice track for the background to your nightmares. It has a Mission Impossible feel without the melodic sense. Pretty cool. "Doe De Duif" means "Do the Pigeon."

Inspection #5 dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Dedicated to the people who put those stupid little slips in you new underwear... It's exotic, smooth, and tribal. Almost Santana like.

Dimitrius dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This cover of the Atlantic's intense tune, with Cossack "Hey!" shouts and energetic screams of joy. Lots of energy and attack. A fine cover.

The Brain From Planet X dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Smooth loungy tiki bar exotica, melodic, funny, and well executed. Growling double picked middle part, followed by a short narrative of mysterious origins.

I Think I Shot Her dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Slinky cliquey intro, finger poppin' leopard skin slow, and moody. Melodic, frilly, and quite pretty. The vibrations are subtle but effective. The melody line is almost spaghetti western.

Drums A Go-Go dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Major chunky reverby coolness, translating Paul Buff's classic Hollywood Persuaders song from a horn-like keyboard go go tune into a stompin' intense surf monster. What a great song. The tribal drums are thicker and more thunderous than the original. The George of the Jungle bass line is too nifty.

The Escape dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Thick and layered with surf chunk and pummeling, this is not really melodic, but it is riff driven and powerful. Just not melodic enough for me.

Minesweeper dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Fine tones, rumbling thunder, and a slow damped chord pluck mark the opening verse. The damped playing throughout is quite fine. This is a classic surf riff styled tune, and it's also well played. It is slightly oriental, chunky rhythmically, and whammified appropriately.

Hully Gully Stomp dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Nearly Dick Dale like in its double picked fury, and owing to Mar Gaya, this is a fine surf monster that is interrupted by country interludes that creep right back into the surf mainstream. Pretty nice track.

SL 54 Automatic dotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

This live track is a spirited surf ripper with an infectious riff and solid drive. The crunch of the band is quite evident, as is the guitaristry. The tune is born of surf and spies, and cartoons. very cool, with it's feedback ending.

Jack The Ripper dotdotdotdot
Garage Surf (Instrumental)

Not just another cover, a live audience shredder with that relentless beat and driven guitar work. It's not a ground breaker, but it sure does demonstrate the obvious crowd appeal of this band.