Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Urban Surf Kings - Surf vs. The Flying Saucers



 | Urban Surf kings have done quite a job putting this CD together. Consistently good sound and excellent arranging, combining surf and spy and country steel in original and compelling songs. |
Picks: Surf vs. The Flying Saucers, Not Of This Earth, Mr. World, Radar Range, Satellites Over Praha, Hamburg Express, Rocket Ranch, Valley Of The Kings, Go Go Island, Luger 3, Man From Adano, Day The Surf Stood Still, Deep Space, Operation H.O.D.A.D., Zombie Road Trip, Saucers In the Sunset
Track by Track Review
Surf vs. The Flying Saucers 

Surf (Instrumental)
While staying in the surf envelope aurally throughout, the ingenious alternations of melody styles between surf and alien theme adds to the coolness of "Surf vs. The Flying Saucers." So, it's partially melodic and aquatic, and partially film-thematic. Nicely done.
Surf (Instrumental)
Great damped reverb rings out against dryer chords with a melody that's somewhat dark and brooding, while also being inviting in an epic adventure way. Rhythmic, rich, and sporting many changes.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Mr. World" would be a buff bulger of the biceps, or perhaps king of the planet. Either way, he's a jammy kinda guy. Not melodically interesting, but sporting some flying guitaristry with hints of rockabilly roots.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Radar Range" is all reverbed out and intense. The band's energy really comes through, as does their skill. A great song with big ringing chords and a dark heart. Very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
A little spaghetti western influence here and a touch of space emanate from the surfish lead and sitarish rhythm. The melody line is well thought out and very good, and the arranging splendid. The damped break is a cool change from the main song. Excellent track!
Surf (Instrumental)
Rich surf tone playfully deliver an song with a flippant attitude and near-quirky riff. "Hamburg Express" is an excellent song with lots of charm and very surf credible. The organ break has a British Invasion influenced sound, which is perhaps just the thing for a song about Hamburg where many budding invasion bands cut their teeth.
Surf (Instrumental)
Vibrato throb and a galloping beat give this fine cowboy romp a surf-ranch sound. cactus, chaps, longboards, and wahines. "Rocket Ranch" really grows on you. Entirely cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Valley Of The Kings" is a heavy Mideast inspired song. Double picked darkness, sitar-guitar exotica, surf rhythm, and desert winds. It's one of the more unusual songs of this often explored area of surf. Lurid in a dramatic and dangerous way.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Oog-gah" chants open this dark twang riff rocker. Great drums, cool ringing chords, a great dribbling break, tuff glissandoes... what, you need more?
Surf (Instrumental)
Darkening moodiness at a moderate pace with an espionage feel and a surf sound combine in a dangerous spy epic. The country steel adds a sense of an out of body experience, providing a counterpoint to the detective turned spy story line. Cool song.
Surf (Instrumental)
Stereo chords and guitar lines wash up on a summer beach where the tourist stands in awe of the curl. Happy, prancing, country sweet, surf rhythmic, and very fun. I can't say I've heard quite this blend of country and surf sounds. More than just different, "Man From Adano" is a splendidly infectious track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Day The Surf Stood Still" is a dramatic and semi-flamenco piece with rich surf reverb and great tom-tom action. More circular than melodic, but quite powerful. This is not fellow Canadian Mark Brodie's song.
Surf (Instrumental)
Dark throbbing vibrato, slow tortured drama, and a big rockabilly sound not unlike the Cadillac Angels achieve at times. Low down, gutty guitar provides a mean sound for this back ally rumbler. Great stuff.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big drama in a spy flick setting. "Operation H.O.D.A.D." sounds like it's fresh off the celluloid as the credits roll past.
Undead Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
Big fuzz brings the threat of the undead forward in this biker fuzz epic turn monster track. dark and evil laughs and calls of "Zombie" run through the song. Influenced by Davie Allan I'm sure, "Zombie Road Trip" is a very cool song.
Surf (Instrumental)
Slow vibrato twango, shimmering low down tone, an open range melody line with the curl in sight, and a cowboy lap steel in tow. "Saucers In the Sunset" is a very pleasing song with its rich tone and excellent melody.