Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Mel-tones - Surf Sensation
 | What a great collection of tracks from the now-defunct Los Mel-tones. Mostly from their two great CD's, with some added gems for good measure. Pure surf pleasure and power. Go for it! |
Picks: Kung Fu Saturdays, Rocket Sled To Oahu, The Perfect Wave, Tiki Cabana, Fault Line, Incognito, Reef Patrol, Surfin' Natasha, Papakolea Beach, Break Point, You'll Never Surf In This Town Again, Curl Rider Stomp, Go Big or Go Home, Mission To Mazatlan, Avienu Malkainu, Astronomic, Surf Before Sunrise, Return of the Surfin' Headhunters, Custom Cruiser, Vista del Mar, In Praise of the Lime, Special Assignment, Air Time II, Sands Go Vermilion, Polynesian Adventure, Breakers at Hanalei, Carvin' the Drift, Villa of Mysteries, The Last Papaya, Suicide Clutch, Distant Shores, Cabo Del Cabo, Surf Clam
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A melodic and well spiced tune, with delightful glissandoes. Double picked, fluid, and punchy. The guys shout in the background too. Infectious, powerful, and hot fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
This track is a rippin adventure. Speedy and melodic, with punchy damped guitar. Edgy surfisms. The rhythm guitar is heavy staccato, while the lead and organ trade off on the melodic line. Energetic.
Surf (Instrumental)
Thundering ringing tone, round toms, pummeling energy, and a riff that laughs of surfabilly roots and surfside frolicking. Not very melodic, but very infectious.
Surf (Instrumental)
El Patio de Afternoono Dilecto (pardon my Spanish). Fiery, flowery, Spanish, and dripping coolness. It's an afternoon on the patio watching the curl break just beyond the bikini line. Very sensual.
Country (Instrumental)
Standard country tiger rag stuff, with liquid lap steel and country twang. melodic, and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Spy surf deluxe with emphasis on the surf. "Incognito" is a very nice tune, with a very cool riff and solid surf sensibilities. Exceptionally cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
Cool lead and rhythm balance. The organ is subdued suitably, while the surfisms rule. "Reef Patrol" seems ominous, yet flowing and gentle, with adventurous Dick Dale-isms and Spanish flair. Very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Surfin' Natasha" is based on Cozy Cole's classic big band monster Topsy. Surf and shimmer meet swing head on. Cool track, with some excellent heavy surf tone.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very nice Island sorta number, with a Surf Coasters kinda melody line. "Papakolea Beach" is adventurous and flocked with dribbling glissandoes. Spooky in a classic way.
Surf (Instrumental)
Very pretty tune with a great sound. "Break Point" reminds me of a few of John Blair's slower tunes. Well written, beautifully liquid, melodic and plunky... Wow! Very nice indeed.
You'll Never Surf In This Town Again Surf (Instrumental)
A shimmering lead guitar plays a very pleasing melody. The vibrato throbs with liquid emotion as it delivers a sad and groovy melody.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Curl Rider Stomp" is a fun track with a spunky beat and plenty of chunka-chunka, spiked with chants of "curl rider" and "shoot the curl now." This is infectious and sports righteous reverb.
Fuzz (Instrumental)
"Go Big Or Go Home" is quite a departure with it's edgy and fuzzy face. Great surf rhythm guitar and fuzz lead playing a slightly eastern melody. Nice track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Mariachi pomp and shimmering guitar emote a mystery unfolding on the beach in Mazatlan. "Mission To Mazatlan" presents a great image and warm mystery. The organ takes the break.
Surf (Instrumental)
A fiery traditional Jewish song with a cool energetic feel. "Avienu Malkainu" carries you along, whether you want to go or not. Great Dick Dale nods too. Brilliant!
Rock Progression (Instrumental)
This is an edgy surfy stompy number. Splashy and frat driven, chunky and churny, with a fuzz lead over rich surf guitar. Nice track.
Country (Instrumental)
Like the title says, it's a rag for the lap steel, playfully bouncing along. Fun and enjoyable.
Return of the Surfin' Headhunters Country (Instrumental)
A slow dance tune for the ladies to ponder the menfolk over. The boys may be checkin' out the fillies framework, but the lasses are eyeballin' the future fathers of America. Think gorgeous gingham.
Country (Instrumental)
A speedy picker's plaything, with some of the same guitar trickery that is used often in surf (by Dick Dale and others), but dry and lightly played. really nice track.
Country (Instrumental)
Ay, carumba! The lace and studded chaps crowd will devour this, with it's tinkly piano, and it's Mexican basis. Quite a fun track. Yee-haw!
Country (Instrumental)
Even Ringo Starr thought this was a fine tune, having a hit with it when he was a Beatle. This instro version lacks the charm of Buck's vocal take. It's essentially the same backtrack with a lead guitar over the top. Fun.
Country (Instrumental)
The backtrack of Buck's vocal hit with a lead guitar overdubbed. OK, but not as cool as his hit.
Surf (Instrumental)
Quirky fundango thumpabilly surf. This tune has a mighty fun melody line, but is most dominated by it's infectious percussion. The tribal rhythms drive home the title theme. poundingly joyous.
Surf (Instrumental)
This grodie slow groove is definitely a stroll, of the midnight variety. It employs a simple riff, lime the sort of thing that Link Wray does so well with, and it has that sort of guitar tone as well. Plodding and ominous.
Surf (Instrumental)
This stomp-on-demand tune is completely from the fun side of the house. The sax squirts and the rhythm thumps are perfect, while the lead guitar just sorta provides a bit of the old noodle. Energetic and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
More like the Halibuts of old, this is a happier than happy tune, melodic as they come, and entirely infectious. The playfulness of the melody brings a grin, while the rhythm section keeps you rolling down the highway. It is the happy side of this song that makes it so special.
Surf (Instrumental)
A standard surf drum track, a chord progression of some familiarity, and an R&B sax & bass duet, combine to form what starts out as a party backtrack, but develops into a surf jam with some mighty fine double picking. Fun track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Tribal drums, spiffy guitar chops, big time whammy, and a delightful almost prancing riff and delivery, all seem to work in concert to produce an unusual and chunky trip for the racing party goers. The ending flying insect simulation is just plain fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Silky smooth, fluidly scenic, and romantically gentle, this tune features full round and ringing guitar tones and gorgeous chord falls. The gentle grass shack backtrack is perfect for the melody line. Very pretty track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Suicide Clutch" appears for the first time here. Great surf rhythm and a grodie surf melody. It's a very infectious track with wonderful rhythm and surf chunk. It all ends with a tuff reverb crash.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Distant Shores" is not a soft piece, but it does shout out images of Baja beaches. The melody is really nice, and the arrangement solid. In some ways, there's a hint of Mark Brodie in the feel. Excellent track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Mexico drips from every lick of "Cabo del Cabo." It's a gentle piece, picturesque and very pleasant. A beautiful piece with a warm breeze feel and a sense of restful hammock afternoons while the lawn mows itself. Excellent.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Surf Clam!" is a double picked fluid piece with an adventurous riff with a slightly melancholy feel. Lots of fine glissandoes and playful changes. The vibrato guitar over the walking bass line in the break is a very cool idea. Love the reverb crash at the end.