Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | There are some interesting tracks here. Afresh approach to surf. These demos are in need of some serious remixing to bring the lead guitar front and center, but the songs are fresh and cool too. Since they do two songs from the Aquanauts, I'm guessing they are related. |
Picks: The Chase, Dinky-Doo, Rock Bottom, Squid Love, Crazy Horse, Surfy-Durfy, Aquanaut, Spies Who Surf, Midnight Glass, Quisp, Pubic Zirconia, Galoot, Conquistador
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
The rhythm is the main thing here. The riff is a bluesy thing with twang added. "The Chase" is a classy song that's like a reverbed out variation of the idea of the Evasions. Pretty cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
Perhaps a little reminiscent of early Belairs or Challengers, but less melodic, "Dinky-Doo" is a fun and simple riff rocker that's brings a grin. Not complicated at all, just fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Rock Bottom" has an interesting riff that's unusual for surf, yet works really well. Infectious and rhythmic, with a scenic coastal quality. An excellent track!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Squid Love" is a catchy song with a very good melody line and interesting whammy chords. The jazzy bass lines create a different fell to the song than it would have with a surf bass. I like this a lot.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Crazy Horse" is based on Indian themes used and reused. Great tribal drums, big twang, and solid energy.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Surfy-Durfy" sports some very attractive guitar interactions. More a jam than a song really, yet there's a warmth and sense of the surf in it that's missing in most such songs.
Surf (Instrumental)
A rough glissando launches a fine version of the Aquanauts' fine instro "The Aquanaut." A solid surf track with fine whammy chords and excellent drums. Energy and intrigue.
Surf (Instrumental)
Like the title says, spy-isms abound in this mighty fun espionage surf song. Tweaky and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Like a silky Link Wray mood piece, "Midnight Glass" throbs with vibrato and sulks with spatial lead guitar. Slow and brooding, with a dark edge.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Quisp" is an original Aquanauts song with a classic riff and whammy chords for extra surfability. Catchy and infectious, with a great reverb rhythm.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Pubic Zirconia" is a surf rhythm chunker with a catchy cadence and bit whammy chords. It's lots of fun and and quite endearing. I can't believe this title hasn't occurred to someone before, and as Zero Gravity said, "I Can't believe It took a surfband to think of it!"
Surf (Instrumental)
A kind of cowboy surfer song, with a funky sound. The bridges are great, and perhaps should become a song in their own right.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Conquistador" is a much heavier song than others here, and much darker. The melody line is excellent, and the tribal thunder of the surf quite evident. Double picked in a slightly restrained way, yet very powerful.
