Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Raybeats - Inland Cleanage
 | This is a CD-R of most of the vinyl issues of the legendary early eighties band the Raybeats. Their music was very important is shaping the instro storm of the nineties, a decade away when these tracks were recorded. |
Picks: Searching, Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt, Tight Turn, Tone Zone, Holiday Inn Spain, Big Black Sneakers, The Backstroke, B-Gas Rickshaw, International Operator, Calhoun Surf, Piranha Salad, Cocktails, Guitar Beat, Jack The Ripper, Banzai Pipeline, Instant Twist, The Sad Little Caper, Jelly Bread, Buddy Lonesome, Soul Beat / Intoxica (Intoxico), It's Only A Movie, Doin' The Dishes
Track by Track Review
R&B (Instrumental)
Major drum action, and plenty of cool R&B Vegas coolness in the low down sax and guitar twin melody lines. The jazz influences are strong, and the rhythm is quite tasty.
Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt Bachelor Surf (Instrumental)
An inspired rendition of this classic surf targeted number, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Bouncy, and utterly fun.
R&B (Instrumental)
Screeching tires and crash boom. This gnarly sax lead R&B number is quite the low-down nasty tune.
Guitar (Instrumental)
The keyboard leads off this eerie number with tortured guitar notes and less than sane sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
A non-LP single added to the CD that is very melodic and fun. The melody is infectious, with it's cool hooks and splashy feel. The sound is very pleasing. You could almost hear the Aqua Velvets doing this. It is one of my favorite Ray Beats tracks. Very pretty.
Martini Surf (Instrumental)
Cool tune with nicely ringing guitar lines. Very simple, rhythmic, and heavily drum oriented. A great track! There's something very Mancini about the writing.
Jazz Surf (Instrumental)
The sun is baking the pre-melanoma dermis, the kids have gone back to their rooms, and you're floating face up slowly cruising the length of the pool at Motel 6. A very pleasant afternoon to you sir! Cool funky number for a lazy afternoon dip.
Surf (Instrumental)
One of only two covers of this Jan and Dean instrumental. Unlike the J&D version, this is poundy and cool. The tom toms do the hot rod motor honors. Nice track!
Espionage (Instrumental)
Placing that long distance call before direct dial, MCI, or One Eight Hundred Collect used to require actually talking to an AT&T international operator, and that was always an adventure, not unlike entering the espionage game. This has that air of spies on the line and stalking in the shadows. Great track!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is the first song Danny Amis ever wrote. He originally recorded it with his band the Overtones, and issued it as the flip to "Red Checker Wagon." This version is big, and very cool. It has a different character than either the first recording or the Los Straitjackets version. This recording has been covered several times, including by the Thrusters and the Neon Spores.
Las Vegas (Instrumental)
Finally, a lunch that bites back! The keyboards are quite unsettling, and the dissonant melody line is irritating in an endearing way. Las Vegas cool sleazy sound.
Exotic Rhythm (Instrumental)
The exotic rhythm and the cool melody pre date the lounge ethic of the nineties. This is a swell number.
Guitar (Instrumental)
A slow chunka chunka tune with big clean guitar lead. Quite nice, and relaxing.
Surf (Instrumental)
Simply one of a handful of versions of this classic Link Wray track that are essential listening. This is tight, intense, aggressive, tribal, and without remorse. The band's approach is both fresh and reverent. This is definitive Raybeats perfection.
Martini Surf (Instrumental)
With a jazzy mix, and an eye on Henry Mancini's martini, the Raybeats deliver an unusual and inspired version of this most quirky surf classic. Fine playing, and a beat generation bachelor pad ethic merge into a stunningly infectious track.
Piano Drama (Instrumental)
Immediate and infectious, this track has a fanciful air about it. The guttural piano intro is pretty scary. It's bluesy and soulful, and a tad mean, with a melodic drama underneath.
Back Street Jazz (Instrumental)
Almost James Bond like, in a back street jazz kinda way, with an ominous and chunky bass line, and a guitar line that forewarns of Reventlos to come. Quite cool.
R&B (Instrumental)
Suave variations of the Booker T. & the MG's classic single. Nice, but not particularly remarkable.
Bluesy (Instrumental)
Semi funky, blues harmonica and rhythmic backtrack soul.
Soul Beat / Intoxica (Intoxico) Postmodern Lowrider Suave Surf (Instrumental)
This is the best post sixties treatment of the surf sub genre of Pachuko Soul (and its accompanying dance the Soul). It has all the Latino fluidity without the East LA car club ethic. Filtered in part through the Central California Luau Exotica variety of surf, this is alluring and magical. Postmodern lowrider suave.
Balcony Rock (Instrumental)
Hinting of black and white horror films and sticky floors, this is an inventive idea and a suave track.
Haunting (Instrumental)
Slowly thumped drums, a rumbling bass, effects of mysterious origin, and a distant haunting guitar line combine to create a track with an undeniable element of the unknown. Spooky and fluid.