Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Dave Myers Effect - Greatest Racing Themes
 | This is a very odd album. Dave Myers' former surfband Dave Myers and the Surftones were nothing like this at all, other than instrumental on disc. It's also nothing like gritty garage fuzz coolness of Dave Myers' Disciples. Much of this is dismissible, but there are moments of pleasure, even edge. Check out Nocho's Theme for a bit of psychedelic guitar aping race cars! |
Picks: Theme From Thunder Alley, Last Lap, Speedway, Shake-A-Lady, Nochos' Theme
Track by Track Review
Speed International Organ Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
Hot rod sounds, organ leads, it's all too Hollywood wanna be Jimmy Smith but can only muster Lawrence Welk. I'm a major Dave Myers fan. His Surftones work was killer. His work afterwards in Dave Myers & his Disciples was grand garage punk. So, when I heard that these tracks were finally surfacing, I was stoked. Upon hearing them, well, suffice it to say I'm bummed!
Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
Flute opens "Theme From Thunder Alley," which is a gentle number with unusual percussion an a very light sound. It eventually evolves into a typical studio session sound. Its layered guitars does create a bit of power, and hints at the psychedelics around them. Big fuzz and grunts.
Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
This is a mid tempo number with an easy horn lead and pleasant rhythm track. Mostly a rising progression, but "Last Lap" somehow finds an interesting niche. Part march, part adventure.
Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
Stereo guitars and dome cool chords with plinky piano... While not really memorable, "Speedway" has some very nice moments. It is perhaps the brightest spot in the Greatest Racing Themes LP.
Grand Prix Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
Echoed drums, Greek double picking, and a very slow pace portray a lazy Mediterranean afternoon. It's hard to imagine why this track was titled "Grand Prix?" Its melody is easy, almost pretty, but utterly forgettable.
Hell's Racers Biker Fuzz Organ (Instrumental)
Hot rods cross the soundscape and then a soft fuzz guitar plays a pleasant melody over a ho-hum backtrack. Very disappointing!
Silent Screamer Biker Fuzz Organ (Instrumental)
Bongos & chunka chunka guitar and a direct rip-off of the Hollywood Persuaders' "Drums A Go Go." So what!
Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
With a bit of a carnival sound via the keys, "Shake-A-Lady" floats lightly in a sixties Italian film sort of way. This is more film score fair than serious band music, though it is certainly a complete track. Kind of post-go-go with Latin percussion in the break.
Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
Dramatic drums, cool percussion, and evil fuzz warbling creating race-car-like groans. "Nochos' Theme" is not melodic, but straddles psychedelic and film fluff. Very interesting in a haunted psych sort of way.
Surf Hot Rod (Instrumental)
Gritty fuzz and combo organ deliver a go-go melody riff over walking bass. "Checkered Flag" isn't melodic as it's in the sixties go-go vein where the riff was all that was necessary. Still, there are some cool sounds from the two guitars, and the bass plays some glissandos while the racers pass across the speakers.