Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Low-Fi Drifters - Instrumental Takeover
 | Zurich is home to The Low-Fi Drifters. Not much leaks out of Switzerland in the surf realm these days, but this is really something. Spaghetti surf often laced with sophistication, great arranging, and wholly original ideas. Of particular note are the covers of "Surfin' Tragedy" and "Some Velvet Morning." Pretty amazing release! |
Picks: Shadowing The Boss, Johnny Remember Me, Love Goddess Of Venus, Escape Chamber, Triple Cross, Get Off The Road, My World Is Empty Without You, Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son, Surf Angel, Hang 'em High, The Lost Inca, Penetration, Joker's Wild, Surfin' Tragedy, Some Velvet Morning
Track by Track Review
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
Slightly jazzy surf chords and a slithery spy bass line back a liquid surf'n'spy melody line. "Shadowing The Boss" employs rich tone and a deliberate pace for a cool late fifties feel. The double picked midsection dribbles nicely, and the bongos add to the beat generation feel.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
Lush swimming tone with a great melody. Slightly sad, spaghetti western-ish, and augmented with bongos. More twang than surf, but very good!
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
This is a slow and somewhat bold cover of The Ventures' "Love Goddess Of Venus." There's a bit of surf darkness, and slide warmth. Pretty nice.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
Spy vs. twang with charm. "Escape Chamber" is a mid tempo track with a simple riff that's just dangerous enough, and is enhanced with ringing chords and reverb charm. Very nice!
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
Flowing like a gentle summer river, "Triple Cross" is warm and endearing. Slow dribbled double picked second guitar lines and bongos give it a bit of an exotic edge. Very satisfying.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
"Get Off The Road" is a slow moving number with echoed guitar lines and a moody traveling rhythm. The whammy chords add surfability, as does the rich reverb on the lead in the second verse. This is a deceptively simple number that moves with ease and adds you to its fan base.
My World Is Empty Without You Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
Yup, it's that song! The Supremes' "My World Is Empty Without You" is a surprisingly good choice. Three guitar parts and an easy charm, along with long slide chords and reverb.
Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
1965's Eurovision Song Contest winner seems an odd choice. Its pop leanings are obvious enough. The song is good, well played etc., but it didn't really catch my attention.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
Moving slowly and easily along a foggy beach, "Surf Angel" seems the sort of thing that The Challengers might have done in a weak moment. The melody is reminiscent of "Blue Moon" at times.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very cool version of Enio Morricone's classic spaghetti western. The arrangement is original and the styling solid. "Hang 'em High" is very well done!
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
"The Lost Inca" is an easy going number with echoed lead and too few changes. The melody is superb, but the arrangement seems lacking compared to other tracks here, though the exotica bongo break is a nice touch.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
The rhythm pattern is done in a muted rock fashion, and the arrangement is based on The Ventures In Space cover. The slide guitar lines add a mysterious western feeling. While this is fairly low energy, it's very refreshing and cool. Your mule will love it, and you will too!
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
"Joker's Wild" is a tasteful track with moderate energy and twang. When the two other guitar chime in at the bridge, it gets pretty interesting. Big whammy chords, dark twang, bright reverb, bongos... what's a boy to do?
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
This is a wholly original arrangement of Anthony Hilder and Robert J. Hafner's classy instro. It's countrified, exoticized, and moodied up! Slow and slithery as it should be, bongoed out, and cheesy in a great way. Too much!
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
1967's morbid pop masterpiece from Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra is amazingly dramatic and rich. Hazelwood was a cowboy at heart, and I'm sure he would appreciate this interpretation. It's western surf and dramatic. Violins and charm! Wow!