Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Nordic Surf - Live At The Viking Lounge
 | The Twin Cities' Nordic Surf play reserved surf wit significant influence from The Ventures. This is a nice set of instrumentals recorded ambiently in a live club setting. The murky live sound detracts from the enjoyment somewhat. These are all covers, but they should be committed to tape anyway, at least as demos. |
Picks: Diamond Head, Jack The Ripper, Baja, Cruel Sea, Red Top, State Fair
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a highly reverent cover of The Ventures' "Diamond Head." It's well executed, and spot on.
Surf (Instrumental)
Bobby Fuller and the Fanatics' "Our Favorite Martian" is played with honor and style. An occasional error just attests to the reality of live recording.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an appropriately gritty version of Link Wray and his Raymen's "Jack The Ripper." The menacing moodiness and angst of the song are very well replicated. Very nice!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an accurate cover of Los Straitjackets' "Can You Dig It." It's well paced and a little less polished tonally.
Surf (Instrumental)
Lee Hazelwood's classic "Baja" is arranged around The Astronauts' cover. This song is just always cool! Nordic Surf do it with reverence and feeling. Quite nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
Covering The Ventures' cover of The Pyramids' "Penetration" with more surf flair. The gritty modulated guitar in the break is interesting.
Surf (Instrumental)
The warm, infectious melody and backtrack of Dick Dale and his Del-tones' "Taco Wagon" is upheld with integrity. It's a bit less fluid, but quite enjoyable.
Surf (Instrumental)
Nordic Surf do a nice job with Jerry Lordan's "Apache." The baseline arrangement if from The Shadows' version. Tasteful and fluid. There are some very nice guitar lines here.
Walk Don't Run / Sleight Ride Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures are the influence here. This is very straight forward. "Walk Don't Run" is nicely done, just uninspired. "Sleight Ride" is more heartfelt, I think.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Dakotas' "Cruel Sea" is done using The Ventures' arrangement. Good playing and attention to detail. It's really not too far from Mike Maxfield' original either.
Surf (Instrumental)
I'm not really sure who's version is being covered here, but Lionel Hampton and Ben Kynard's "Red Top" is done very nicely. The surf whammy adds charm to the jazz chords and rhythm section.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a tasteful cover of Phil Sloane's "Secret Agent Man." It's easy. fluid, and nicely phrased.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an infectious cover of Los Straitjackets' "State Fair." The surf rhythm is very cool.