Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Holy's - Sueno Sicodelico
 | There's plenty of surf guitar amid the early psychedelic wailings of this band. All instrumental, and all fun.
Los Holy's were from Lima, Peru. They may have been the first Peruvian psychedelic band, and were steeped in the instrumental sound of The Ventures. Their first album, Sueno Sicodelico (Psychedelic Dream), represents a radical step forward in Latin American concept records. This CD is from vinyl, and sides A and B are reversed, but otherwise, it is a reproduction of a seminal moment in the development of Peruvian rock. |
Picks: Holy's Psicodelicos, The High Chaparral, Psicodelico Desconocido, Spectro 1, Choque De Vientos, Campo De Vampiros, Sueno Sicodelico, Melodia Encantada, Piedra De Doce Angulos
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
"El Hombre Desnudo" ("The Naked Man") is a strange track with a simple melody line that's very nice, but doesn't really stand out amid an arrangement that's all about the repetitious sci-fi riff and psychedelic organ. The break is very cool.
Rock Combo (Instrumental)
"Holy's Psicodelicos" shows a band heavily influenced by the Ventures and European melodies. The tune is melodic enough, and the delivery is very spirited, especially the drummer.
Surf (Instrumental)
Galloping hooves and a "Telstar"-like arrangement and melody dominated by light psychedelic organ. There's none of the heaviness of "Telstar," and there's also some very cool muted reverb affects.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Psicodelico Desconocido" ("Psychedelic Stranger") is actually the Marketts' "Out Of Limits" grodied considerably, with major reverb and string swipe effects, and ultra echoed eerie weirdness. A muddy take with a moody and speedy band lurking in its dark corners. Nifty.
Surf (Instrumental)
Warbling fuzz guitar is very cool against psychedelic organ. Tape echo affects simulate turn table action for a futuristic sound. The guitar's warble is not that dissimilar to some of the lower echelon psychedelic bands of the day such as Indian Puddin' & Pipe and Frumius Bandersnatch.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Choque De Vientos" is a moderately paced number with a fluid melody on echoed guitar with whammy. In the break, the song gets psychedelic jam frantic. The bridge line is liberated from "Don't Say Nuthin' Bad About My Baby."
Psychedelic (Instrumental)
Los Holy's do a semi psychedelic cover of The Ventures' "Vamp Camp" to great affect. The throbbing guitar is a very cool touch, and the way the Leslie pumps the organ really makes it work well. Soft, yet unsettling.
Psychedelic Surf (Instrumental)
This is a radical rearrangement of the Sandals' "Scrambler." It sports surf guitar lead and weird electronic whirlings. Right from the opening weirdness, you know this is going to be a strange trip to remember. The melody is actually perfect for this psychedelic morphing. Howling guitars, reverb, sidebar keyboard adventures... all too much for your mirror. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Rising from echoed keys, and sporting some very cool and simple guitar stuff, "Melodia Encantada" ("Unchained Melody") is romantic, yet psychedelically haunting. Great bass lines, dribbling muted surf reverb, and excellent drums complete the picture. Superb!
Reunion Psicodelica Surf (Instrumental)
"Reunion Psicodelica" is a pre-funk R&B jam with wah wah guitar and a catchy riff, but no real melody. It sounds like Stax-Volt instro b-side on steroids.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a fast number with great drums and rolling bass. The tortured string bending and near-mandolin double picking provide the psychedelic surf edge, while the organ and production create a pop ethic. Very interesting.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a modest version of Mort Shuman's TV theme. The interesting, perhaps ironic thing about this is that Los Holy's do to The Ventures what they often did to others - transmute their creative energy and sound into pallid pop. That alone makes it worth a spin.