Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Slacktone - Into Blue Sparkle
 | The wait is always so-o-o long, but finally the new Slacktone CD. Into The Blue Sparkle is a brilliantly powerful sparkling experiential sonic flow. Dave Wronski's sense of riff is unique. His writing is immediately identifiable, yet always fresh. This is the mark of a great writer, like Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone or Jim Thomas. Brilliant guitaristry supported by the trademark excellence of the best rhythm section in surf music. Dave Wronski's gorgeous guitar work, Mike Sullivan's perfect bass lines, and Dusty Watson's incredible drums... What's really hard is writing concise descriptions of talent this strong without seeming to gush on incessantly. Simply one of the best trios out there, Slacktone has put together yet another exceptional release. All I can say is see 'em, hear 'em, buy 'em! |
Picks: Coffin Closer, Longboard Legato, Bird Bone, Daytona Mona, Into the Blue Sparkle, Blast Bolero, Brian's Beached Piano, Rell Sunn Aloha, Stickman, Glide, Saga (of the Floating Cowboy hat), Slanky, South Run, Tiki Bar Crawl, Avalon Slip, Secret Exit Man
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A dramatic opening and then... that spitfire Dave Wronski attack... it's on tracks like this that the band's power is undeniable. Powerful, percussive, choked with delight... redefines the word "shred."
Surf (Instrumental)
This pretty piece sports a moody melody and a minor chunk. The whammy is warm, and the playing exquisite. A little sad, but optimistically recovering. An ambassador for the longboard generation. A great track!
Surf (Instrumental)
This dramatic and rhythmic piece flows like a torrent of muddy flood water racing to the coast. Too crisp for white water, to powerful for a glassy tube... and those precision glissandoes. Excellent meter - pure liquid. Infectious and pure.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big and chunky, edgy and divine... slightly off color excitement, big thunder percussion, and a touch of the mechanical bull. Very fine track!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is the title track. It's warm fluid introduction yields to a soft spoken and brilliantly plucked meander that shouts out adventure in inviting tones. There's a clear sense of traveling down a rutty back road in search of that secret spot.
Surf (Instrumental)
Yikes... Big time emotional content, excellent drive and intricacy. Where's the Ravel Society on this one... (it was they who caused the "Bolero" section of the James Gang's "The Bomber" to be pulled). Actually, only the inspiration and emotional charge are here, residing in a brand new tortured heart turmoil of guitar, bass and drums.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is such a cool number. "Brian's Beached Piano" a.k.a. "She's So Fine" floats off the floor on the heart strings of infatuation. Bouncy and pretty, playful and imaginative. This is great stuff... it needs to find its way into a film score somewhere - under happy ending credits or during a playful opening credit scene... excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
What a great track. The writing on this instro is spectacularly beautiful, emotional, and more than a little moving. It has a fluid motion to it, and a basic groove that creates a beautiful ambiance. It's slow-to-mid tempo pace is relaxed and relaxing, and it's spirit is pure. The delivery is precise, from Dave Wronski's gorgeous guitar work and Mike Sullivan's perfect bass lines, to Dusty Watson's brushed drums. I think this is the supreme rendition... a beautiful tribute to the passing of a legend. My hats off to you gentlemen!
Surf (Instrumental)
With the beautiful relentless magic of that "Love Her Madly" inspired intro, this track is a splendid and sparkling experience. The guitar and rhythm section mesh perfectly... catchy and warm, like a summer day in Kona.
Surf (Instrumental)
Jeez Dave, is there no limit to your imagination. Those opening chords... I love it. The main riff is adventurous and spicy, and the overall feel is of a happy surge. The break... don't tell me, I know, Dave can REALLY play! His fingers work the magic, and the arrangement is always just right. The break here is spectacular, with it's pristine notes and double picked onslaught and choked slides. Unbelievable.
Saga (of the Floating Cowboy hat) Surf (Instrumental)
The cowboy beat, the cactus adventure, the Spanish lace... what a cool track. The rhythm is infectious, and the lead lines magical... gush gush. very warm and playful, and remarkably smooth.
Surf (Instrumental)
Like the title implies, "Slanky" is a sideways slinky number that slithers across the horizon like an exotic dancer on vacation. Too fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Great double picking and precise glissandoes give way to warm whammy and intense drive. "South Run" thunders, slides, sways, and dives. The chords are gorgeous.
Surf (Instrumental)
Deceptive opening notes... yield to a tribal monster with a great melody and a totally infectious rhythm track. Power, play, excitement, and a little daring. Get's right to the heart of the salt air.
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening with a warm sound only Bryan MacLean (Love) has previously explored, "Avalon Slip" becomes a slowly flowing beauty with a rich deep tone and a sense of no boundaries. This is spectacular. Again, the writing is remarkably good.
Surf (Instrumental)
A spy leaves by the rear entrance, out through the kitchen when no one is looking. A backdoor man, as all espionauts are, this one lives a sad and secret life, never letting anyone in. Pure spy theme, warmed and taken over the top with richness and surfisms.