Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Phantom Four - Live at De Diepte
 | This live recording is intended to hold wiggly fans until a studio CD is ready. The ambient sound is not bad, and the performances and writing are excellent! |
Picks: Dellamorte Dellamore, Rivolta, Horst, 7-Speed Blender, Il Deserto Rosso, Sitara, Rampam, Pintor, Malabar, Pink-A-Pade, Mr. G, Remo Rifles, Malaguena, Mar Gaya
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a big and dramatic song with the edge of slow flamenco and the power of Dutch surf. A five minutes plus, it's also very fulfilling. About half way through, the pace picks up, and the desert influences become more pronounced. "Dellamorte Dellamore" is a spectacular song.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Rivolta" is a song with nicely composed melody that has a sense of spaghetti western and the mysterious Mediterranean. A very good song with a solid arrangement and delightful whammy chords at the end of guitar lines.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Horst" is a motion oriented song that takes you on a journey. Moody and emotional, spooky and well developed, it commands your undivided attention and rewards it with a rich panorama of melody and arranging.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a dramatically cool song with mysterious rhythm and Middle Eastern imagery. "7-Speed Blender" doesn't rip, it slithers through sensation and the scent of the oasis. Really nice!
Surf (Instrumental)
Stinging whammy chords, a playful melody line, and a catchy rhythm combine in search of the illusive shimmering ahead that you never reach. The desert sun beats down as the invitation from the palms calls to you, but alas, they are not there. Great song!
Surf (Instrumental)
The title warns that the sitar is the inspiration for this fine work of art. This is not your mother's surf. It is as intriguing as the Woodies' "The Swami," but more playful and adventurous. A marvelous merger of styles and sounds.
Surf (Instrumental)
Unlike the other songs here, "Rampam" seems like a transmutation of "Istanbul" blended with an inverted "Music To watch Girls By." It's not at all derivative, but it seems to reference comfortable themes that lurk just below the radar. Fun track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Jack Irvin's "Pintor" first struck the surf scene via the Pharos. Whammy and an original arrangement have brought new life into this wonderful song.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Malabar" is a speedy surf thrasher somewhat like the Treble Spankers used to occasionally produce on occasion, though less melodic. Lots of circular energy and stompin' fun. Very fast double picking, with note transitions played like John Blair does, dropping one note to clarify the change. Very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
A rompin' good-fun rhythm drives this playful and adventurous song. "Pink-A-Pade" is exotic and very enjoyable, with a memorable melody line and engaging arrangement.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Mr. G" is a slow piece with an open soft melody that floats on a sad scene. There's a sense of being trapped without anticipation of a way out. Quite affective. That said, there areparts of this that have the kind of new day dawning optimism that Jim Thomas' "Lonely Road" creates. Very nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Remo Rifles" charges with intense energy and whammy. Dramatic and adventurous, with a more traditional melody line in an unconventional setting. I imagine this really rips in person.
Surf (Instrumental)
There are lots of fine versions of Ernesto Lecuona's magnificent "Malaguena." This is another, with an original variation on the Trashmen's arrangement. In some ways, it's reminiscent of the Half Tribe of Mannasseh version, but with much more edge. Lots of drama and fire!
Surf (Instrumental)
Randy Holden's often covered ode to "The Victor" is solidly done with the correct stompin' beat and dark power. The Phantom Four do justice to this Fender IV classic.