Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | Very cool! The first CD from the Surfacers is a surf guitar fest of three guitar arrangements and powerful writing. Rhythm dominates the sound much like the Astronauts, but with a different edge. Quite a debut! |
Picks: The Russians, Crushins, Unknown, Desperado, Annihilation, Indianapolis, The Last Wave, Wild Rider, Snackie, Haitian Eyes, The Hidden Man
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Pounding surf throbs and writhes with double picked reverb. "The Russians" has a heavy sound with both guitars driving for the tube. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
With a big Dick Dale-ish power rip, "Crushins" is all pumped up and written like a modern Dick Dale shredder. Not overly melodic, but very powerful and surf thrashed.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Unknown" is a very pretty surf rhythm and mood swing instro with great damped reverb and whammy chords. Three guitars give it a rich texture and attractive sound. Too cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
A speedy cowboy surf epic with glissandoes galore and a moody guitar line. Much more surf than desert, but both are interwoven here. "Desperado" is rhythmic and full bodied, with an attractive sound and commanding throb.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big thunder thrash and burn punkoidal surf with reverb and rhythm. Not melodic, but very powerful and likely to please post punk surf fans.
Surf (Instrumental)
Heavy on the surf rhythm like some of the Astronauts classics, "Indianapolis" throbs and shreds and grumbles with reverb and surf at every curve. An excellent song with lots of fire and power.
Surf (Instrumental)
"The Last Wave" grows on you. It starts out seeming like an OK song, but soon enough you find it has a firm grip on you. Rhythmic and shimmering with an attractive well textured sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
An uplifting song with an outsider visual. Very well structured, "Wild Rider" is a fine surf instro with a cool melody line and haunting sound. Tribal tom toms and thundering bass pummel below the great guitar lines. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an adventure in cookies at dawn, or some such. Thrashingly surf, flying glissandoes, double picking all over the place, and lots of damped reverb. Way cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
The sea gently rolls into the beach as "Haitian Eyes" come forth with a somewhat spy sound. A bit of haunted danger, some moodiness, and a becoming guitar line.
Surf (Instrumental)
"The Hidden Man" is a rhythmic and thundering track with a dark heart of unavoidable danger. More about the rhythm and danger, with delicate damped plucking that's wet and wonderful. Heavy, yet delicate.
