Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This is an amazing project CD. Part Pollo Del Mar, part Slacktone, and all superb! If you like Pollo Del Mar, you'll love this, and if you don't, it's still an amazing disc. Way over the top good!

Picks: Amber Waves, Ewa On The Beach, Teke, Teke, Teke, Finito Bandito, A Man Called Dirt, Fugitive, Magyara, Pumpin' Surfing Stance, No Surf Today, The Raven, Little Woman, Big Dog, Johnny Fool, Full Nelson, Drop Dead, Snakes And Ladders, Ice Station Echo

Surf (Instrumental)

"Amber Waves" is one infectious number, with a great rhythm track, superb drums, and a perfect for the road melody. The bass is particularly interesting here. The three guitar arrangement makes it really full.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is another very fine track, with an island lead guitar that's all slippery and Hawaiianesque. There's a European flavor to the guitars, but just a touch. The layered axes are really cool, and there are plenty of changes to keep it fresh, as if its chemistry wasn't enough. Excellent!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Teke, Teke, Teke" is all surf! The perfectly muted reverb lead and second guitars are simply joyous! Great drums, a perfect bass line, and all that reverb! This is simply the best!

Surf (Instrumental)

Slithery spaghetti western guitars swim over the top of a galloping beat and rhythm. "Finito Bandito" has the charm and spunk of an Italian guitar band of the sixties, but also the loveliness of the Ferenc's style. Really good!

Surf (Instrumental)

There's a grin bearing drama here that is simply charming. The melody is fine, the arrangement sophisticated, and the performance very strong. The layered guitars and keyboard make this almost orchestral. Amazing!

Surf (Instrumental)

Sick dogs bring forth a totally revamped version of Jan Davis' "Fugitive." This is without a doubt the most original take on this song I've ever heard. Lots of guitar textures and great drums. The bass line is perhaps the most like the original part. The cowboy percussion is precious.

Surf (Instrumental)

Dribbling double picked guitars open, yielding to thick delay drenched guitar that carries one of the two main lines. The other guitar is dark and rich in a relatively European style. "Magyara" has all the earmarks of a Mediterranean vacation, brought back to California by a couple of very cool glissandos. Ivan Pongracic (Madeiras) plays one of the lead guitars on this track.

Surf (Instrumental)

Rippin' glissandos and incredibly solid drums take Sir Edward Elgar's classic 1901 "Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1" to a whole new level. The guitars are ultra cool, especially once the double pick power passages take hold. Superb!

Rock (Instrumental)

"No Surf Today" is a lovely track. It's sunset island attitude is gloriously liquid. Mel Waldorf (Los Meltones, Meshugga Beach Party, etc.) does guitar honors on this thoroughly romantic track.

Rock (Instrumental)

"The Raven" is a complete remake of Pollo Del Mar's "Annabelle Lee." I've thought of it as their signature song for quite a while, and have really loved it. This is a whole 'nother thing! Totally over the top liquid reverb guitars all across the panoramic soundscape. The trite phrase OMG comes to mind. This is simply magic! Five stars are not enough!

Rock (Instrumental)

Brandishing a big rock style and intense volume, along with some funny vocalizing, "Little Woman, Big Dog" is a romping good song. Great drums and bass power the raucous attitude. Shigeo Naka (Surf Coasters) plays he monster lead on this track.

Rock (Instrumental)

This is another Pollo Del Mar complete facelift. "Johnny Fool" is "Johnny Foo, Ninja Chiropractor" with such a string surf sound that it's almost a new song. Very powerful and fun, and gloriously reverbed.

Rock (Instrumental)

Great tribal tom toms and sort of Indian feel, though the melody is more like a lost Sandy Nelson meets Johnny and the Hurricanes excursion. The drums are very Sandy Nelson, the second guitar all reverb surf, the percussion right out of Preston Epps library, and the organ so very Johnny and the Hurricanes. Once the dueling muted guitars come in, it's just more than you can stand. Why this wasn't done 40 years ago by nelson is beyond me, but it sure is cool! My hat's off to all who played on this session!

Rock (Instrumental)

In a fairly rock sidetrip, "Drop Dead" is fanciful, yet heavy and rockin' Incredible drums, perfect bass, and two guitars playing off each other in superb balance. Dave Wronski (Slacktone, Jon and the Night Riders) plays one of the leads here.

Rock (Instrumental)

This is a rippin yarn with Danny Snyder playing trumpet for a twist in direction. The double picked surf guitar rips and curls its way along, while the band simply pumps it out. "Snakes And Ladders" is reminiscent of "7 Sisters, 7 Seas."

Rock (Instrumental)

This tribal and lush track is reminiscent of Pollo Del Mar's "The Blue Rider" in some ways. The rich double picked guitars dribble in liquid glory and drama. This is a truly fine track in the dramatic vein only these players can muster. Perfect!