Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Mermen - A Glorious Lethal Euphoriadotdotdotdot
artworkThe Best band on earth continues to do wonderful things. This is not too surfy, but way cool. Jim Thomas is a master of his fx, and Allen & Martyn keep him afloat with uncannily wonderful backwashes of rhythm and rage.
Picks: The Drowning Man Knows His God, Pulpin' Line, Quo Me Cunque Rapit Tempestas, Deforor Hospes, Lizards, With No Definite Future (And No Purpose Other Than To Prevail Somehow...), Blue Xoam, Under The Kou Tree, Scalp Salad, Obsession For Men, Drub, The Intractable Boy, Between I And Thou, And The Flowers They'll Bloom, Brahms 3rd Symphony

Track by Track Review


The Drowning Man Knows His God dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Dark evil feedback opens this drum laden track. It pounds and pummels and slaughters the peace of your household. It is a big sounding sad number with major edge. Like a tsunami dragging you unwillingly to shore before it fades to a ripple and a howl. Dramatic and powerful.

Pulpin' Line dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Super pumping double picked powerhouse number designed to grind you into the sand. Very big and energetic.

Quo Me Cunque Rapit Tempestas, Deforor Hospes dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Slowly howling sad and melodic mood piece, with super compressed guitar and lots of nice elements.

Lizards dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Fast and intense, it shreds through the night using feedback and flying fingers. Melodic and enthralling.

With No Definite Future (And No Purpose Other Than To Prevail Somehow...) dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Very slow and melodic. This has a haunting and magnet quality to it. When they played this at Winter Swell, Allen announced it as "With No Definite Uncle Al And No Purpose Other Than To Prevail Somehow..." in thanks to Uncle Al for mastering the limited edition Xmas CD-R for them.

Blue Xoam dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Rising from the gentleness of the swell, this song suddenly becomes a huge double picked monster, just the other side of a grand reverb crash. Intense and moody, fast and powerful.

Under The Kou Tree dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is one of their best tracks, because it carries such exotic oriental influences and uses such a sad melody line. It is mid tempo grandeur.

Scalp Salad dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Martyn's talent for naming songs is unsurpassed here. The melody is magical, and the edge and drama are most endearing. Great song.

Obsession For Men dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Evil feedback a la Jimi Hendrix gives way to big chord power and drama in a slow moody track fit for raising the hair on the back of your neck. Feedback is the keyword here. It eventually moves into a melodic structure of large dimensions.

Drub dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Got Drub? Unusual unexpected almost unnatural melody, lots of energy, and wham.

The Intractable Boy dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Light, slow, delicate, almost English folk-like melody. Jazz and drama and sensitivity. Wandering between power and art, it hits home every time. Nice song.

Between I And Thou dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Sitting alone in a darkened room, the melody of sadness gradually builds to a huge energy. The emotional content of this song is immense.

And The Flowers They'll Bloom dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

With visions of a hillside in the late winter, with hints of spring in the air... all will soon be fresh again. Very pretty and powerful track.

Brahms 3rd Symphony dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Jim's classical training comes forth here, as he pristinely delivers a solo performance. He should do a black-tie affair at the opera house. It would be great!