Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Venturas - Surfers Brew
 | This is quite a nice CD from Belgium's Los Venturas. they are using ska and other elements on some tracks, and overall have created a unique and recognizable sound. Very tasty! |
Picks: Kingston Beach (Part 1), Surf Rollin', Bikini Bandit's Last Ride, Ah! Aziza, Chevy Chase, The Hippy Hippy Breaks, Revenge Of The Tikis, Operation Travolta, Wave Rodeo, Oasis Blue, Kingston Beach (Part 2)
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Reggae meets surf in a splashy environment while a voice drones a chant. This is so very original and simple. The melody line is fine and the image of the Caribbean surf too cool to pass by.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Surf Rollin'" is an aggressive surf instro with flying notes and splashy chords. The infectious nature of the rhythm track is stark, and the melody line very inviting. The tom toms and glissandos just add more coolness.
Bikini Bandit's Last Ride Surf (Instrumental)
This double picked song is light and frivolous, and sparkling with surf adventure in an island paradise, but is more upbeat and fast than most tracks in that vein. Very catchy! A slight chorus accompanies some lines.
Surf (Instrumental)
Like a gentle verging-on-ska surf instro, "Ah! Aziza" has a decidedly Japanese feeling to it. The lovely tone and guitar interplay are wonderfully hip. The break is at double speed, but yields to a spacy effects passage that increases in pace and charm. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
The ska rhythm of "Chevy Chase" adds the same kind of grinning coolness that the Halibuts often achieved, and the round double picked surf leads give it an original flavor. I came back to this several time while reviewing. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an interesting twist. Chan Romero's "Hippy Hippy Shake" works reasonably well as an aggressive surf instro, though the wild sax break is really the best part. Overall, it's much more about energy than melody.
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening with ambient sound from a tiki bar, "Revenge Of The Tikis" features grand muted surf reverb an infectious rhythm. This track will work very well on that afternoon drive, or early morning search for surf. Splashy and fiery, with great drums and solid bass, and wonderful guitars.
Surf (Instrumental)
Dark trashy guitar tone murks up a simple revolving riff rocker that's more frat than surf in the beginning, but the effects and the mix evolve into excellent fiery surf, and then back. I can't think of another track does this. very interesting.
Surf (Instrumental)
Agua plenty at the shore's edge, murky sound, and a fine melody line. This track is not as well defined as others here, sounding perhaps like a demo. The song underneath that sound is quite good, however, with really strong drums and an infectious melody and rhythm, 5 stars for the song, 2 for the production.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Oasis Blue" is a gentle song that uses lovely ringing guitars and the sea to gradually paint an image of the briny with relentless and unchanging melody runs for quite a while. Then an accented chord awakens the track to become a haunting and mysterious island epic that's very cool. Very satisfying.
Kingston Beach (Part 2)
Surf (Instrumental)
A second take on the first track, with a narrative over the top in places, and a much longer run through the guitar lines. "Kingston Beach (Part 2)" reminds me a lot of "Ayo" from The Swamis in sound and imagery.
It's followed by an unlisted track that's ska based and bouncy and quite fun. It' very similar to one of the classic Russian songs, or perhaps a bit like "Swan Lake." very cool!