Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Hell-O-Tiki - Hell-O-Tiki
 | This all too brief ep is chock full of amazing, gritty, short board surf. Abrasive, engaging, powerful, and compelling. This is highly original, intense instro surf for tomorrow. |
Picks: Clotheline From Hell, Tequila Sunrise, Itchi Itchi, XVI, One Step Beyond
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Very dirty guitar (as in gloriously dirty) and strong drums drive "Clotheline From Hell" home. You might not notice the bass, but its constant rumble is essential to the workings of this track. The organ groans in almost psychedelic snarls. This is a very tuff and cool track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Fuzzadelic surfomatic guitar rides a tight line above great drums and bass. The drums in particular shine. "Tequila Sunrise" is rough and ready, and intense too.
Surf (Instrumental)
Rising fuzzy feedback amped with intense whammy launches "Itchi Itchi," which swiftly leaves the psych gnarl behind for a short board shred-fest. The demented break is intense and psychotic. This is very engaging and powerful.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big drums, stereo guitar delay, brittle tone, and heavy bass. "XVI" is very different from the rest of this album, but not so different that you don't know it's Hell-O-Tiki. The left-right big chord bridges are quite nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
Madness' "One Step Beyond" is very slow and shimmering in stereo tremolo. Drama, dangerous beauty, and if that's not enough, the bass carries the lead while the chords run interference. Ingenious!