Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Let There Be Theremin - Let There Be Theremin
 | This is a very fun CD. It's instrumental rockabilly with a touch of ska. Let There Be Theremin play instrumental rockabilly. It's often light on melody, but rich of texture. The Theremin is used in a bit of a gimmicky fashion, though not to the detriment of the recordings. If you're into rockabilly instros at all, this will suit your fancy. |
Picks: 80cc's From Hell, Frankenstein's Twist, Shock Thereminpy, Peppermint Fuzz, Curse Of The Camel Toe, The Hearse, Goin' To See My Thereminpist, The Prisoner's Revenge, Save The Last Lapdance For Me, Tonto's Nightmare
Track by Track Review
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Slow whammy gives the guitar an island sound while the drums play a tribal beat as "The Hawaiian" opens, but the song itself is not islandic or really much more than a jam. The break is very cool, much like the intro.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Racing engines, thrashing hot rod guitar, and pumping bass, along with warbly Theremin. "80cc's From Hell" doesn't rise above a backtrack - that is to say it's mostly chord progressions, yet its flailing Theremin keeps it interesting.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
With a thrashing rockabilly progression, "Frankenstein's Twist" charges for the fun-o-meter. The muted dry notes circle around the core. More fun than song, and the end is superb.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
The lead guitar cycles through a progression, whammifies the bridges, and then comes back for more. The ska rhythms in the middle are really fun, especially when augmented by whirring Theremin. "Shock Thereminpy" verges on really cool, but lacks enough melody for focus. Great title!
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Tremolo spy guitar licks and Theremin scariness, along with haunted keys. Deep bass, rockabilly drums, and a rootsy progression excitedly cycle. Pumping fun.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Theremin wail, flashy guitar chordage, and roots bass and drums romp through cycling patterns. Fun, energetic, and almost melodic.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
A very fun ska rhythm, super rick bass, and an pulsing beat. "Curse Of The Camel Toe" isn't exactly melodic, but it's really cool anyway. A raw sax plays in the break while the upright gets manhandled. Slap that bass, brother! Is it the camel's toe under into the tent? maybe not!
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Wailing Theremin, an undulating cowboy rhythm, and a nice little melody riff. "The Hearse" is a lusty track with a catchy sound. It's not the Lee Hazelwood song.
Goin' To See My Thereminpist Rockabilly (Instrumental)
"Goin' To See My Thereminpist" is based on a classic guitar boogie shuffle. The pumping bass is what really keeps this afloat. Despite the implication of the title, there's no Theremin here.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
The introductory and break riffs in "The Prisoner's Revenge" is essentially liberated from Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn," while the melody line is derived from it. Wailing Theremin adds intrigued, as do the big whammy chords.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
"The Spyder" seems derived from Paul Hubbard and Steve Rowe's "Minor Chaos,"but it is that frantic or infectious.
Save The Last Lapdance For Me Surfabilly (Instrumental)
Sultry whammy chords and long flowing upright bass notes over superb tribal drums create a sullen sound. Like a reinvention of "Coming Home Baby" at times, "Save The Last Lapdance For Me" also features double picked guitar for a surf edge. This may be the most interesting of the songs from Let There Be Theremin.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
"Tonto's Nightmare" has the thrashy edge of The Torpedoes, though it's less frantic and more rockabilly than surf punk. If you dug the way The Torpedoes played at the edges of time and control, you'll find some of that energy here, and the Theremin adds a bit of spice.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
The title tells the tale, though "explosion" is rather an exaggeration. The lumbering pace undulates for a cool journey.