Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Metrolites - In Spy-Fi
 | The Metrolites blend lounge combo sounds and spy-styles with the tiniest bit of surf. Some tracks are quite cool, while others seem too derivative or unmemorable. The CD is half vocal, half instro. The one vocal that is too fun is their cover of "The Blob." |
Picks: The Man From M.E.T.R.O., Sin, Gunfight At The Zombie Mineshaft, The Man From M.E.T.R.O. Takes Five, The Abominable Dr. Vibes, Land Of The Giants, The Man From M.E.T.R.O. Ë La Conga, Tiki, Love Theme From The Man From M.E.T.R.O.
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a saucy blend of John Barry spy and beat generation lounge. Fun and spunky, yet its roots are showing a bit too much, making seem pretty derivative.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Sin" is a an interesting piece in the mysterious mold of fifties chillers. The very decay of the reverb applied to the floor tom adds real drama. Big guitar edge and and a galloping beat eventually rule, along with spaghetti western bell-ringing and smoky sadness.
Gunfight At The Zombie Mineshaft Surf (Instrumental)
This is a rousing good very spaghetti western track with great guitar and energy. The cheesy Theremin adds to the mystery, and the floor tom's reverb gives it depth. Perhaps the coolest track here, "Gunfight At The Zombie Mineshaft" is a splendid adventure in filmology. Way cool!
The Man From M.E.T.R.O. Takes Five Surf (Instrumental)
As you might expect from the title, this owes its life to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five," though the melody is original. Likely a break song, it's quite short. Still, it's very cool.
The Abominable Dr. Vibes Surf (Instrumental)
"The Abominable Dr. Vibes" is kind of spooky, but not particularly engaging. There's a bit of a sci-fi edge, but mostly this track is like a backdrop to a conversation in a loud lounge.
Surf (Instrumental)
This Mission Impossible sound alike is more fun than its inspiration and more fluid. The chumpy organ gives this "Land Of The Giants" a comic sense that brings a grin. The fuzz guitar and heavy bridges are very cool. The lounge-lite break seems to be unlike the song in some ways, though once the Theremin wails begins, it is wholly redeemed. Very cool.
The Man From M.E.T.R.O. Ë La Conga Surf (Instrumental)
twenty-two seconds of exotic cheese...
Surf (Instrumental)
The sax plays a soft sad line while the backtrack bounces with a lighthearted lilt. Usually, this sort of thing does not strike me favorable, but "Tiki" is a simple pleasure. The tinkling piano is too cool!
Love Theme From The Man From M.E.T.R.O. Surf (Instrumental)
IN the general neighborhood of "Mission Impossible," this light weight song is short, and winds up the CD with bongos and fluff.