Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Retrofoguetes - Ativar Retrofoguetes!
 | Brazil's illusive Retrofoguetes have delivered one unique album of instrumental madness. If nothing else, they are certainly original. But of course, that's not all they are. This 2003 CD features highly creative arrangements and writing backed by very good performances and wonderful soundscapes. the whole CD flows like a story, with each and every track seeming to slide into the next scene in some demented film. Excellent all around. |
Picks: Surf-O-Matic, As Concubinus Mecanicas Do Doutor Karzov, Ativar Retrofoguetes!, Roswell, Asteroide Fantasma, Night Of Excess, O Inicio Do Espetaculo, As Criaturas Enjauladas Do Circo Espacial De Moscou, O Espetaculo Continua No Circo Espacial De Moscou, O Carrosseu Do Inferno, A Fantastica Fuga De Magnolia Pussycat, Lanca-Chamas, O Fabuloso Doutor Pheto, Monga, Meu Amor, O Avanco Da Robotica, Andromeda Nao Responde, Warp, Leve-Me Ao Seu Lider, Tema Do Robo Gigante
Track by Track Review
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
"Surf-O-Matic" sports big twang chords and a mean garage riff over thump and thunder. This is a loud and powerful track that's out to get you. There's a vocal that circles through extreme effects, making it more like an instrument than words. Swimming whammy and power.
As Concubinus Mecanicas Do Doutor Karzov Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
Disturbed keys and swirling dark space inversions create the scene in which the guitar plays a surfable and powerful line. Big and slightly weird, like maybe Joe Meek might be up to where ever he ended up after his untimely demise.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
Grumble and circling tweakery, a spy guitar line and an ominous bass line over manic drums. Haunting and cool, with soundtrack chorus. The second half is pumped up into a space punk spy frenzy.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
"Roswell" is too cool. The almost silly lilt of the cowboy rhythm and tweaky sounds create a wild west sci-fi story that's hard not to grin at. Space, cowboys, surf, and youthful imagination abound. Totally fun!
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
"Asteroide Fantasma" is a great galloping spaghetti western kind of song with very cool surf guitar, big screen drama, ultra twang chords, and rich imagery. Thoroughly enjoyable, with a very effective arrangement and mix.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
Silky evenings and slithery sounds spread a picture of an intimate interlude and a warm fireplace. Delicate, like a subtle cocktail for your ears. Some exotica, some surf, some just plain cool sounds.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
"O Inicio Do Espetaculo" is a playful song with a really quirky beat and arrangement. If Henry Mancini was actually in a surfband that played space detective themes, he might have sounded like this. Great grinning fun!
As Criaturas Enjauladas Do Circo Espacial De Moscou Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
This is a punky angular track with dark energy and a pogo beat. While it's more complex than punk usually is, it's also not fluid like surf. The psycho weirdness of the brief break makes you doubt it's the same song. Assault and battery at the hands of the amps.
O Espetaculo Continua No Circo Espacial De Moscou Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
Wonderful! "O Espetaculo Continua No Circo Espacial De Moscou" is a very bouncy Eastern European/Mediterranean thing with great happy energy and shouts of "hey!" It's very difficult not to like this.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
This short interlude is a clockwork against an unnerving keyboard sound and carnival of the dead melody.
A Fantastica Fuga De Magnolia Pussycat Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
On the punky side of "What Ever Happened To Eddie," and just south of evil surf, "A Fantastica Fuga De Magnolia Pussycat" is playful, while not being light weight.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
"Lanca-Chamas" is a lumbering journey into darkness and mental instability. Dramatic, like a sideshow of your nightmares, and disturbingly heavy. Quite unusual.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
Like a polka for the dead, but with a sense of humor, "O Fabuloso Doutor Pheto" is simply a joy, assuming that you don't mind being in Neverland.
Space Spy Surf (Instrumental)
An interlude between trouble out there and placid confinement in here - here being a venue for the unbalanced. Tweaky, strange, and very visual.
Space Spy (Instrumental)
Dissonant and angular, the plaintiff cry of "O Avanco Da Robotica" is on the downside of robot love. It's like a spy in the garage of night, where wayward robots rule.
Space Spy (Instrumental)
Big like a film score, gritty like a rock song, dramatic like the theme from a dangerous story... "Andromeda Nao Responde" seems dark and dangerous, yet sports a fluid melody that's on its own.
Space Spy (Instrumental)
"Warp" is precisely metered, stompin' solid, and kind of robotic. It's not much like the other tracks here structurally, yet is fun and very fitting in this place in the flow of their story. Imaging Kraftwerk and Devo conspiring on spy music.
Space Spy (Instrumental)
In a kind of Mission Impossible setting, but much darker, the band makes a statement about espionage that's more rock-credible than most. Big and very intense.
Space Spy (Instrumental)
With the strangest glissandos on disc and a bit of cowboy sounds, the intense guitar and rock solid beat and bass thunder and command center stage. Thoroughly cool!