Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Silver Hawks - Fly City To City
 | Fly City To City is loaded with soaring, magnificent music, some surf related, some psychedelic, and some rock, but all really good. You can't be wearing your purist hat, but this is a genuine work of art. If you appreciate Gary Hoey, The Mermen, Epitaph, or Wig Wam with a surf underbelly, The Silver Hawks will certainly please you. Then again, you need only be a bit adventurous to appreciate this CD. Genuinely good music. |
Picks: Teriyaki, Two Blocks From Nowhere, Boulderstone Twist, Astro City Skyline, Last Flight Home, Amity Island, Statham Returns To Stuttgart, AY 398, Freezing In Prague, Moon Birds, Race Thru Mullholland, Fear City, Hawks Over Manhattan, From Neverland To Oblivion
Track by Track Review
Euro-Surf (Instrumental)
"Teriyaki" is all spy, with whammy warble and long echo guitar. The melody is really good, and the band's performance is strong. An excellent track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Two Blocks From Nowhere" is on the dangerous side, verging on soaring, with occasional feedback and images of flight. I like this a lot. Muted reverb rhythm, long sustain lead, delicate drums, and moody bass.
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)
On the spaghetti side, but with a surf underbelly, "Boulderstone Twist" is adventurous and aggressive. Heavy double picked modern guitar, soaring flights of melody, and a now-sound. Excellent!
Sub-Metal Surf (Instrumental)
Rockin' riffin', and pumping with energy, "Astro City Skyline" is a catchy number with splendid playing. This track has an aggressive riff slightly reminiscent of Armageddon's "Buzzard," but much less intense.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Last Flight Home" is an epic rock instro with long sustain and great rhythm. The bass is really good, and the sweeping imagery stark.
Country Surf (Instrumental)
start with a scenic country song, add surf picking and a surf beat, and you get a very cool instro with a splendid melody and wide open imagery. "Amity Island" is a wonderful song with rich visuals and lots to like.
Statham Returns To Stuttgart Rock (Instrumental)
"Statham Returns To Stuttgart" is a great instro for traveling. Its rhythm section is infectious, and the melody connects immediately. The solid arrangement is very effective. This is really hard to dislike.
Euro-Surf (Instrumental)
Echoed guitar dribbles and double picks in a light European way, while hinting at surf. "AY 398" literally sparkles with enthusiasm and adventure.
Rock (Instrumental)
This rock instro has long sustain in dark tones riding above an infectious rhythm track. The energy hooks you immediately, and the melody is sweeping and wide open.
Euro-Surf (Instrumental)
Dry muted rhythm guitar supports a light lead melody the way eighties rhythm guitar often did. It's a structure that's very effective. Delightful guitar lines are all fun. The keys warble and swirl in the middle.
Rock (Instrumental)
Very cool drums rock beneath swirling dark modulated guitar in the opening. Past that, "Race Thru Mullholland" becomes sort of spy-like.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Dark and almost frantic, the melody circles briskly through a perfect progression. It's a fascinating thing to hear, capturing your attention and not letting go. As "Fear City" comes to an end, it slows down as if it's parking at the curb to let you out. Very cool!
Rock (Instrumental)
Tribal drums and long haunting near-psychedelic guitar lines flow like a wide river after a rain. "Hawks Over Manhattan" soars with extremely clear imagery. This is exceptionally strong!
From Neverland To Oblivion Psychedelic (Instrumental)
"From Neverland To Oblivion" is a sweeping psychedelic soundscape with long sustain on imagined wings of flight. Quite amazing.