Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Sonor - Sus Mejores EP's (1963-1965)
| This is one of those cases where the band underneath the product mess may be better than the record allows. Some really good playing, occasionally interesting band arranging, and yet, lots of dreadful pop. |
Picks: Caravana, Sol Naciente, Malaguena, En Un Mercado Persa, Mistery Wave
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fun and bouncy version of Duke Ellington's "Caravan." The upright bass pumps with joy. Really good guitar work here.
Rock (Instrumental)
While the arrangement is original, I have to say that "Diamantes" completely misses the pint of Jet Harris and Tony Meehan's "Diamonds." The bass plays the lead - interesting for sure - but the rest of the arrangement is an odd mix of great drums, plinky piano, and fluffy sound.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Sol Naciente" ("Rising Sun") is part easy rock with lush piano, and part stiffly double picked, dry guitar. It lacks the guts of a surf instro, but was clearly influenced by the genre.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a pleasant arrangement of Jet Harris and Tony Meehan's "Scarlett O'Hara" with some tasteful whammy and a light rock sound.
Rock (Instrumental)
Violins and infectious rhythms, with strange whammy lead guitar. The rolling drums are quite fine. This is part very reverent, part surf influenced (Trashmen), and mostly catchy. It's one of the more original non-surf arrangements.
Rock (Instrumental)
Fluffy light rock guitar rendering of The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire)'s "Dominique." Infectious drums and a Johnny Cash/Luther Perkins-like rhythm and bass. Very fun.
Tienes Mi Amor Rock (Instrumental)
This is a jazzy number that's piano based and loungy. While pretty, it seems a bit self indulgent and is just not memorable.
Rock (Instrumental)
Electronic warbles open to echoed muted guitar in sync with the bass. Once into the song, the drums roll frantically. This track seems like someone is rushing and they are just not playing together. Interesting, but annoying.
Rock (Instrumental)
Henry Mancini's "Moon River" in a very strange arrangement. Heavily echoed guitar, plinking fifties piano, and sometimes gimmicky use of echo. I can't decide f this is kinda cool in a demented way, or just goofy.
Do The Blue Beat Rock (Instrumental)
Boy is this awful! Cheesy pop with dumb chorus lyrics. You won't miss anything at all if this never crosses your bow.
The Hitchiker Rock (Instrumental)
Cheesy organ plays in a peanut vendor sort of way. The drums are cool, but otherwise, this offers little.
La Primera Felicidad Del Dia Rock (Instrumental)
Easy listening acoustic guitar and chorus... dismissible!
Rock (Instrumental)
Fairly edgy guitar, a stomping beat, glissandos, and cheesy organ. The main melody is sort of Japanese. The break is heavily echoed muted guitar over churchy swirling organ. On the verge of cool.
Rock (Instrumental)
A bit of surf via dry muted guitar and a sad day on the surf melody, along with a vocal chorus that's right out of a period film. The break is organ dominated and dreadful. Part intriguing, part yuk.
Recuerdo A Brahms Rock (Instrumental)
Soft, slushy, and chorus-drowned. Imagine Sergio Mendez without the geeky cool.
Rock (Instrumental)
Rolling piano and military drums roll as the chorus ooh-ooh's "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic." Almost interesting. It would have been cool without the chorus! "Dixie" is used as the break.