Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Ramblin' Ambassadors - Avanti
 | It's easy to draw comparisons to Link Wray here because some of Link's tendency for long sustained chords and minimalist darkness is in evidence, as is an overall loud and intense sound. But more than that, there are splendid spaghetti western elements, solid melodies, and just plain magnetic rock instros. This is not a surf CD, but instro fans who dig Link Wray, Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, the Bottleups, or the Berzerkers in their more rock'n'roll mode will surely like this. I do! |
Picks: Sixty Seconds To What?, Lungbucket, Theme From 'The Ramblin' Bastards', Hawgtied, Dead Man's Flats, Hangin' Tree, Hup Two Three Four, Twenty Original Fembots, The Hairless Cat
Track by Track Review
Spaghetti (Instrumental)
Heavy and gritty guitar double picks and sustains in a dramatic launch, which yields to a spaghetti western melody on a lonely guitar. The tone is slightly edgy, and the imagery very much in line with the Italian westerns. Very nice track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Stinging and intense, "Lungbucket" rawks and stresses out. Loud nervous rock instro a la late eighties / early nineties bands. Heavy, distortion dominated, and in your face.
Theme From 'The Ramblin' Bastards' Rock (Instrumental)
This is a heavy number perhaps similar to the sting style that Robert Johnson uses, though less Link Wray like and more rock demented. Stinging and relentlessly harsh.
Spaghetti (Instrumental)
"Hawgtied" is a grand number with a galloping spaghetti western beat and big twango. Excellent percussion, fine melody line, and a lot like the kind of thing the Hellbenders have done, but more intense and searing. Really cool!
Spaghetti Rock (Instrumental)
Big and nasty a la Link Wray augmented with horn and a bit of Spanish flair. Superbly long sustain and dark tremolo. Totally commanding.
Spaghetti (Instrumental)
Bouncing and edgy, "Hangin' Tree" sports a catchy melody with Link Wray-ish chords. Stinging, harsh, and magnetic. great throb too.
Rock (Instrumental)
Originally from the Sid Presley Experience (the precursor to the Godfathers), this has all the loud assault that band commanded, and surely is a tuff tribute to them, as well as a natural choice to cover. Big, stinging, and intense!
Rock (Instrumental)
Dark angular guitar, very big tone, and gutty delivery give "Twenty Original Fembots" a sound that's like the other rock tracks here, but suggestive of an influence from Jet Harris & Tony Meehan. Pretty darn cool!
The Hairless Cat
Rock Erotica (Instrumental)
A voice sings in the night as the throbbing guitar lays out a progression that's basic and compelling. This is like a blend of Link Wray and exotica. Very cool!