Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited - The Spacesound Effectdotdotdot
artworkThere's no surf here, but there are some great spy guitar things and some really good arranging. I didn't like their "Plays Lost TV Themes" at all. This is much better to my ear, with excellent production in most cases, and some really cool hypnotic and multi-textured tracks.
Picks: The Spacesound Effect, Senor Lopez, Samba Patrol, Lino Ventura, Section 5, Haunted, Blues For K, The Twisting Spy, Little Ghoul, Riviera Drive, Double Agent, Wheelspin, Cool Move, Crimeville, Waltz Underneath

Track by Track Review


The Spacesound Effect dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

With a hypnotic "Music To Watch Girls By" feel and a whirling organ reverb, "The Spacesound Effect" spans the mystical abyss of space with a cool and multi-textured rhythm track. The melody line is fluid and eerie. Spooky, cheesy, and cool.

Senor Lopez dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

An organ piece with a loungie sound and pumped out with the Wurlitzer spinning. Dramatic yet light, thick yet delicate. The rhythmic chop of the guitar actually holds it together.

Samba Patrol dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

"Samba Patrol" is a bouncy samba for the droids among us. Not very interesting, yet infectiously fluid and bouncy.

Lino Ventura dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

An almost surf guitar chops behind the organ... The rhythm track is way more interesting than the keyboard lead.

Section 5 dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

A slow go-go organ pumps out a beat while a whirling organ carries an eerie melody. Spooky and lush, and very well arranged. The excellent guitar is so buried in the mix that its presence is only hinted at. Too bad, because a more prominent guitar would make this really shine. Hypnotic and moody.

Haunted dotdotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

Great guitar lines are just not prominent enough in the mix, yet they call to you from the shallows of the band track. Throbbing and floating, with a exotic percussion.

Blues For K dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

Slow organ soundtrack fluff... not very interesting for a guitar fan. A little Shaft, a little exotica, and a little Lawrence Welk.

The Twisting Spy dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

The rhythm track here is exceptionally cool. The melody is carried by a theremin-organ duet. It's weird, but more like Lost in Space than ID4.

Little Ghoul dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

A great backtrack with a "Shot In The Dark" feel, and a cheesy organ lead playing a nice little riff. watery and cool.

Riviera Drive dotdotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

A guitar number with a cheesy feel and a top down Aston Martin afternoon image. Liquid rhythms and sub-spy sounds... a very cool track.

Double Agent dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

Another great rhythm track supporting a hypnotic organ. Layered with interesting elements everywhere - not busy, just complete. Every instrument plays a role in the arrangement. Excellent.

Wheelspin dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

Almost Jon and the Nightriders meets Los Straitjackets at the cleaners.... no reverb, but really cool rhythms and lots of fun.

Cool Move dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

Slow twangy rhythm and mall salesman organ... a little hokey for my taste.

Crimeville dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

An infectious rhythm track supports organs for a cheesy sixties-seventies European film score sound. Couldn't quite get into it.

Waltz Underneath dotdotdot
Space Exotica (Instrumental)

Scientifically calculated moody exotic film score magic... really quite cool. Slow and deliberate.