Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Sub-Mersions - Save The Cave Train
 | This second release from the Sub-Mersions contains an uneven collection of tunes, some with really nice flow, some with unusual ideas, and some without much melody. The productiuon is generally of demo quality, with drums too dominant and lead guitar not really featured. It is stronger than the first. |
Picks: Dr. Yes, Cave Train, Tecate, The Galf Song, Crybaby, Sub-Marine, Horse Piss, Huevos Rancheros, Cecilia Ann, Fascists, Cape Lagosi
Track by Track Review
Spy Surf (Instrumental)
I suppose it was inevitable that an antidote to Dr. No would be developed... "Dr. Yes" is a fairly fluid surf riff number with a relentless beat and a solid twang. It's a little hard to discern what the two guitars are doing, what with the tendency to fill every cranny, but it seems to work OK and has a neighborhood combo appeal.
Spy Surf (Instrumental)
Dedicated to the perennial boardwalk ride, this slightly dark surf riffer has a nice balance between the lead and rhythm that helps get past the melody that doesn't quite dominate. It's more friendly than not, and almost as fluffy as a ride on the cave train.
Riff Surf (Instrumental)
"Tecate" is a riff rock number with post-punk female utterances of "Tecate" and "Yeah." The relentless nature of the riff wears thin pretty quickly. The guitar neck chokes aren't enough to make up for the lack of a melody.
Riff Surf (Instrumental)
"The Galf Song" seems to be a backtrack waiting for a melody. It's got an infectious rhythm alright, but doesn't have a focus. The guitar work is spiffy enough, just not very well written.
Riff Surf (Instrumental)
"Crybaby" is a backtrackish number comes along. There's a melody line, but it just isn't catchy or particularly obvious.
Riff Surf (Instrumental)
Thick and slightly ugly, "Crybaby" slowly develops like a budding sludge monster, but then it sprouts the wings of a riff rock backtrack, losing the promise of the intro.
Riff Surf (Instrumental)
Post punk beat oriented and more melodic than many here, at least until the chord progressions kick in. It's just shy of being really cool. The downer is the chord jammin'. Without that, it seems to be on the verge of nearly beat generation infectiousness.
Cowboy Surf (Instrumental)
Suitably cowboy, just west of spaghetti western, and very fun. I think this is the high point of the disc. The double picking is nice, and there seems to be some genuine fun and humor in the performance. The shouts add, and the playfulness of the melody riff bring grins to the listener.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Surftones' "Cecilia Ann" is rendered in a cross between the pure surf original and the distortion of the Pixies. Adequate energy is present, and a real reverence for the tune is obvious.
Fascists Surf (Instrumental)
Punk and grind boot boy relentless melody free one chord mindlessness, punctuated by screaming narrative chants in the middle. Sorry boys, but this just doesn't go anywhere.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Cape Lagosi" is very different from the other tracks here. It is a dark and almost sludgy brooding surf number. The opening chokes and reverb are quite ominous. It loses some of it's sheen as it gains speed in the midsection, but still ends up working. I'm assuming that the title reference is to Bela Lagosi's cape.